The draws of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by America, Mexico and Canada have been released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and Nigeria is in Group C alongside South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho.
The Super Eagles will be keen on securing their place in the World Cup after failing to qualify for the previous edition in 2022 held in Qatar. Nigeria has qualified for the World Cup six times and will be hoping to make the 2026 edition a seventh.
Though Nigeria is considered by many to be the favorites to secure a straight qualification from the group, the determination of the Super Eagles to get the job done will be put to the test. The Super Eagles have failed to find their form in recent years, crashing out of the last edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), in the round of 16 in a 1-0 loss to Tunisia, and failing to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup losing to close neighbors Ghana at the National Stadium in Abuja.
However, the Super Eagles seem to be back on the right trajectory, as they cruised in the 2024 AFCON qualifiers, securing their place in the tournament with a game to spare.
What are Nigeria’s chances of making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup? One may ask, so here is an analysis of the opponents, and the threat they pose to Nigeria’s World Cup dreams.
South Africa
The Bafana Bafana of South Africa has established themselves as a force to reckon with in African Football. Easily the biggest threat the Super Eagles are expected to face in Group C, they are ranked 62nd by FIFA only behind Nigeria in the group who is ranked 39th.
The quality of South African football has increased drastically in recent years with the emergence of the South African Premier League as one of the best on the Continent. The majority of the national team players play in the domestic league.
They will be aiming to make it to the World Cup for the fourth time in their history after participating in 1998, 2002 and hosting the competition in 2010.
They are coached by Hugo Bross, the Belgian is no new face in African football as he led Cameroon to glory, winning the 2017 edition of AFCON.
However, according to Soccernet, history is in Nigeria’s favor, as South Africa have never defeated the Super Eagles in a World Cup qualifying match and have only won once in their twelve competitive encounters.
Benin Republic
Currently coached by Gernot Rohr, the Cheetahs of Benin will be looking to the former Super Eagles coach for inspiration as they hope that his in-depth knowledge of the Super Eagles will give them an edge in the encounter which promises to be a thriller. With a FIFA ranking of 93, the Cheetahs will be aiming to make it to their first World Cup.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are expected to pull through as they have never lost to the Benin Republic.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, ranked 124th by FIFA, is one of the four countries in group C dreaming of making their World Cup debut. Zimbabwe could still pose a challenge if they maintain a strong defensive line.
The Chevrons still lack an attacking presence after the retirement of their talisman Khama Billiats but are still expected to do well if they can maintain a strong and compact defense.
However, their record against the Super Eagles is poor, losing four of their last five encounters.
Rwanda
Rwanda is ranked 139th by FIFA and has never qualified for the World Cup. Led by Spanish coach Carlos Alós, they will look to defy the odds and secure their first-ever World Cup qualification.
They will be looking to players such as Yannick Mukunzi, Djihad Bizimana, Emmanuel Imanishimwe, and Abdul Rwatubyaye to be at their best if they are to stand a chance in Group C.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles had the upper hand in previous encounters, having emerged victorious in all four meetings with Les Amavubi, according to Soccernet.
Lesotho
Ranked the lowest in the group at 152nd by FIFA, Lesotho is regarded as the underdogs of the group.
The Likuena (Crocodiles) of Lesotho have never qualified for the World Cup or even the African Cup of Nations, so dreaming to qualify from this group is what Nigerian Pop Star Burna Boy might describe as a “Wild Dream”. Their primary goal will be to avoid embarrassment by their Opponents in the group.
However we must keep in mind that Football is a Wild game, you never know.
