Nigeria’s FIFA 2026 World Cup hopes are slipping after a costly 1-1 draw against South Africa left fans across the nation frustrated — www.naijnaira.com reports.
The News Agency of Nigeria gathered reactions from supporters who worry the Super Eagles’ dream of reaching the tournament is now hanging by the slimmest thread.
Data analyst and football lover Damilola Idris said the result has put Nigeria in a fragile position, calling the performance “disappointing and damaging.”
He stressed that Nigeria must beat both Lesotho and Benin in the last fixtures, adding that a strong goal difference could determine who qualifies.
“Nigeria’s path now requires near-miraculous outcomes, and we’re hoping South Africa slip against Rwanda,” Idris remarked with concern.
Sports analyst Dehinde Ogunbiyi described the clash as tough, praising South Africa for standing their ground while admitting the Super Eagles fell short.
Ogunbiyi urged the team to regroup quickly and warned that the same mistakes from past qualifying campaigns must not repeat this time.
Another fan, Alex Iheanacho, pointed out that FIFA’s investigation into South Africa’s alleged use of an ineligible player could still tilt the group standings.
He noted, “If FIFA deducts points from South Africa, Nigeria could get a lifeline, but we cannot rely only on that to qualify.”
Fans now anxiously await both the team’s performances and FIFA’s ruling, knowing Nigeria’s fate depends on victories and a bit of fortune.
Article updated 4 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
