Nigeria football finished the year 2024 on a good note having placed second in the delayed Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast behind the hosts, a feat that sent Super Eagles supporters into ecstasy.
Another feat that plunged the nation into hysteria was qualifying for the 2025 AFCON and the African Nations Championship (CHAN) where they defeated bitter rivals, Ghana. A goalless draw in Ghana and a 3-1 victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo six days later ended their six year wait for a CHAN tournament.
Nigeria further claimed the WAFU ZONE B U-20 tournament following a victory over Ghana once again to qualify for the Youth AFCON in Ivory Coast next year.
The attention will now be switched to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with games resuming in March. Ex-Super Eagles forward Chukwu Ndukwe has called on the leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation to focus their efforts on the qualifiers for the World Cup finals.
Speaking to Brila.net, Ndukwe stressed the need to provide the necessary support for the technical crew led by interim coach Augustine Eguavoen.
“Our priority should be qualifying for the World Cup, and for that, we need stability in the team,” Ndukwe stated.
“Sometimes the coach needs time to understand the squad’s depth, experiment with players, and build a solid team.
“I think Eguavoen and his technical crew should continue instead of bringing in a new coach and starting afresh.” He told Brila.net.
The Super Eagles sit in fifth place in their qualification group with just three points. South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin Republic are tied at the top with seven points each, while Lesotho occupies fourth place with five points.
The situation leaves Nigeria with a mountain to climb if they are to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada and USA. Winning all the remaining six matches could propel the Super Eagles back into contention for a World Cup ticket.
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