Afolabi Gambari
The phrase “it is what it is” eminently befits the Super Eagles of Nigeria. When the draw of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was made late in 2023, it was unanimously agreed that the Eagles could not have had a better grouping than that which pitted them against lesser opponents, South Africa, Benin Republic, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Lesotho for a round of 10 games. Indeed, some concluded that the Eagles’ point haul in the group would be massive, even suggesting that by the time the sixth round of matches would be played, Nigeria would have amassed a maximum of 18 points, leaving the remaining for matches to be decided by new entrants that would be handed chances to claim spots in the team.
But football is like a biscuit that can break at any point. This reality sank deep as the Eagles hosted Lesotho in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Match Day 1. The game had barely started when Lesotho, populated by rookie players, compared to the Nigerian team that brimmed with experienced Europe-based players, scored the opening goal. On a day the hosts were largely expected to practically annihilate their guests, the game was some 25 minutes from closing before the Eagles netted the equaliser that was celebrated so much that spectators that just entered the stadium at that time might think it was the winning goal. As if dropping two vital points to Lesotho on the day was not dreadful enough, the Eagles succumbed to a similar fate four days later on MatchDay 2 as Zimbabwe hosted them on a neutral Rwandan ground. As the Zimbabweans also scored first and looked like coasting home with the maximum points, the Nigerians had to grind out a late equaliser to avoid defeat.
MatchDay 3 had fate favouring Nigeria, somewhat, as the Eagles played hosts to Benin on a neutral Abidjan ground. But after the Eagles scored first, they capitulated to a 2-1 defeat that threatened to put the sword to their World Cup ambition. Of the 9-point haul calculated for the first three games, only a measly 2 points were garnered. They must make a quick amendment four days after, as they hosted South Africa in Uyo on Match Day 4. Or so they thought. But the South Africans appeared to have lost respect for Eagles, fighting out a goal apiece result to further jeopardise Nigeria’s ambition.
Efforts had met results for Nigeria in the run-in. From MatchDay 5 to 10, desperation became the Eagles’ companion as Benin and South Africa took control in turns at the group’s summit. Not even a reprieve presented by South Africa, who somehow lost 3 vital points to infringement, could save Nigeria’s crumbling ambition. By Match Day 10, the desperation heightened, causing a tense atmosphere everywhere, as a play-off spot appeared as the surest route for the Eagles to berth at the World Cup. A 3-1 whipping of a sorry Benin team in Uyo would not be enough to guarantee the play-off until a very late goal made it four to grant Nigeria the passage. But, despite this torturous route that the Eagles were condemned to take, they were not at all overawed. Faced with two games at the play-off in Morocco, all they needed was to grind victories in both. A debilitating strike action by the players had put a spanner in the works, though it was resolved after missing a full day of training. In the first game against Gabon, they met a team that was not really ready to excel and ran away with a 4-1 win. Many had dared believe that the second game against the Democratic Republic of Congo would be a piece of cake, especially as Nigeria opened scoring in the 3rd minute. But the Congolese soon seized the initiative, cancelled out the goal and threatened time and again to net the winning goal. Whatever happened to Eagles, making them slip into lethargy, has still not been explained, save for the obvious proof that saw dangerman Victor Osimhen calling it a day after 45 minutes due to injury. But the game stretched into extra time and onto penalties that exposed the Eagles as lacking the nerves to withstand tension as they surrendered the playoff winning slot to the Congolese, signalling two straight misses from the World Cup finals after also missing out in 2022.
To say the Eagles are not deflated and knocked out psychologically going into the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, kicking off in Morocco on December 21, is to be deluded. It would also be quite delusional to say these Eagles are in the right frame of mind to improve on their last runners-up position to win the trophy this term. In the 28-man list that took literally eternity to compile before it was released late on December 11, are mainly the players that let Nigeria down in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Francis Uzoho, the fitful goalkeeper whose presence between the sticks often caused tension, has returned after nearly two years. So has Paul Onuachu, the big striker who has yet to prove his worth in the team, but has had a great season so far in the Turkish top league. There are five newcomers: defender Ryan Alebiosu, midfielders Usman Muhammed, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Tochukwu Nnadi, and forward Salim Fago Lawal – in what looks like a bold attempt by Nigeria at rebuilding the team from the ruins of the play-off in Morocco last month. It could yet turn out to be a gamble as the quintet would have had only one match as “testing ground” as Egypt hosted Nigeria to a pre-AFCON friendly in Cairo on December 16, even if they were all fielded. But would it be enough tests for the AFCON battles that begin with the opening group game against Taifa Stars of Tanzania on December 23?
