For most Nigerians, supporting their national team is something they look forward to, especially against rival teams. However, the recent performances of the Super Eagles have been so bad that lots of fans have been clamoring for change. Especially when you consider that they went on to have an excellent outing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Well, currently the Super Eagles are struggling with their World Cup qualifiers and the future looks quite bleak.
So, do they have what it takes? Maybe. Anyways, in this article, we will be looking at how they did at the AFCON and the impact of their upcoming fixtures on their World Cup qualification hopes.
So, do they have what it takes? Maybe. Anyways, in this article, we will be looking at how they did at the AFCON and the impact of their upcoming fixtures on their World Cup qualification hopes.
AFCON 2024 Performance
For a lot of people, Nigeria was touted as favorites for the AFCON, and they wouldn’t have been wrong. This is because the team currently have players that ply their trade at top clubs in Europe, and they constantly deliver great performances. We saw what Victor Osimhen did with Napoli the previous season, where they won the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years. Oh, let’s not forget Ademola Lookman’s impressive hattrick at the recently played UEFA Europa League Final, where his 5-star performance made his team became champions.
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The fact that the Super Eagles were in a group with teams such as hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, made it tricky to become the continental champions. After the group stage, the team was able to qualify as the second-placed team two points behind group leaders, Equatorial Guinea. At the Round of 16 stage, we saw a different Nigerian team, as they saw off top rivals, Cameroon. Nigeria advanced thanks to a brace from the Atlanta man, Ademola Lookman, with the match ending in a 2-0 scoreline.
At the quarter final stage, they team faced Angola, a team that denied them a chance at the 2008 World Cup. Ademola Lookman rose up to the occasion again, as the team recorded a 1-0 victory over Angola. They were on the path of slaughtering all their rivals as they moved closer to winning the trophy. They also beat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana after a 1-1 draw in a tensed semifinal penalty shootout at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sadly, the Super Eagles couldn’t stop the Elephants of Ivory Coast at the final stage of the competition as they lost 2-1 to the host.
William Troost-Ekong scored Nigeria’s only goal in the game. Victory could have handed the West African giants their fourth AFCON trophy, but they couldn’t cross the finishing line. After the match, the then Nigeria coach, José Peseiro had this to say, “The team showed great character and were fantastic throughout the tournament”.
Recent Matches and World Cup Qualifiers
After the Nations Cup in 2024, the Nigeria Football Federation sacked their Portuguese tactician, Peseiro, and hired former Nigeria player, Finidi George to oversee the team’s qualifications to the 2026 World Cup in the United States of America. The more interesting issue is that, despite being the overwhelming favourites to go through after the draws, the Super Eagles are facing a tough challenge to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after recording several poor results.
As it stands, they sit in fifth position in their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign group, which has the likes of Benin Republic, South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. The team recently played a disappointing 1-1 draw with South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Things have even got tougher for the Nigerians as they lost their recent match, a 2-1 defeat at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium against Benin, in a match where they were the clear favorites.
To progress from this group, they would have to win the remaining games, and the chances of doing this are quite slim. However, the words of Wilfred Ndidi could give the fans a glimmer of hope. The Leicester midfielder said “We have a great team, and we can achieve great things if we work together.”
Here is a summary of Nigeria’s recent matches:
- Benin Republic 2-1 Nigeria
- Nigeria 1-1 South Africa
Next Matches of Nigeria: Upcoming Super Eagles Fixtures
With the FIFA World still, a couple of years away, the Super Eagles would have to deal with their upcoming fixtures with more energy and will to win. The matches ahead are challenging and will test the resolve of Nigerians and the team.
World Cup Qualifiers
Below are the upcoming fixtures that would determine the fate of the Super Eagles in respect to World Cup qualification.
- Rwanda vs. Nigeria – March 25, 2025
- Nigeria vs. Zimbabwe – March 24, 2025
- Nigeria vs. Rwanda – September 1, 2025
- South Africa vs. Nigeria – September 8, 2025
- Lesotho vs. Nigeria – October 6, 2025
- Nigeria vs. Benin – October 13, 2025
While waiting for these matches, Nigerian football fans who are looking for other ways to have fun can try their hands on casino games. However, before you sign up with any platform, we advise that you check review platforms like CasinoCanada for insights into the best casinos, their games, and offerings. For instance, consider comparing casino bonuses offered by the gambling sites listed on the platform to be able to choose a platform that offers the best bonuses with favorable terms and conditions.
What the Future Holds
With the team’s qualification chances for the 2026 World Cup not firmly in their hands, the future is uncertain. To secure an unlikely World Cup spot, Nigerian fans will have to rely on other teams to do them a favor and hope their players can have an upturn in form.
We can’t say with certainty whether Nigeria will make it or not for now, but if we are to go with the antecedents of this West African team, we can say there is still hope for the Super Eagles. This is because, it will be foolish to write Nigeria off when it comes to African football. There is just so many talents at their disposal to make a statement.
Conclusion
While they had an excellent outing at the just concluded AFCON 2024, the Super Eagles are currently struggling for form. They are presently fifth in their World Cup qualifying group which means they could miss out on the FIFA World Cup again, having after missing out on the last edition in Qatar after a defeat to West African rivals, Ghana. So, what does this mean for the future of this African giant? We hope they can get back to their glory days and make it out of the current depth of terrible performances.
