NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen has given a strong message of belief ahead of Nigeria’s playoff push for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Footynaija.com reports.
Nigeria finished second in Group C of the African qualifiers after a difficult run that included draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe and a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic on neutral soil. That position means Nigeria must now go through the playoff route rather than qualifying directly.
The Super Eagles missed the last World Cup and the financial, emotional and sporting value of returning to the global stage is significant. The team face Gabon on 13 November in Rabat, Morocco, as confirmed in an earlier report. Victory would set up a meeting with either Cameroon or DR Congo for a place in the inter continental playoff.
In an Instagram video shared by Soccernet, Eguavoen said the players understand the moment.
“We all know what it means to be at the World Cup. We missed out on the last one; we will put that behind. The boys know exactly what is at stake. I like the unity so far, from Nigerians, getting this qualification into the playoffs now, I think we will not toil with it,” he explained.
He also expanded on the sense of renewed hope around the squad.
“Of course, we have a chance. All hope were lost… I believe in the team. The prayer was let some other country drop points, of which they did. And here we are. God has given us a lifeline as well,” he said.
The Ex-Super Eagles coach added that he sees real quality in the squad and that the personnel available give Nigeria a strong platform.
“We have the quality, we have the personnel, we have everything to go for it. I am one hundred percent confident that we will do it.”
The build up to the playoff has been shaped by mixed fortunes. Several players, including Ola Aina, face fitness concerns. Even with those setbacks, Nigeria delivered a strong response with the recent 4-0 win over Benin Republic, and that performance kept the campaign alive.
As confirmed in the playoff schedule, only the group winners qualified directly. Runners up must now fight through this shorter, intense route.
