Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been handed a fresh lifeline in their bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the withdrawal of Eritrea from the qualification competition.
With Eritrea gone, Nigeria moves slightly higher in Group C and must now finish in one of the top two spots to secure an automatic World Cup place—or possibly reach the inter-confederation playoff, depending on tiebreak rules.
Coach Eric Chelle has already pulled off two wins and two draws in his first four matches in charge. But draws against Zimbabwe and South Africa in recent fixtures dented Nigeria’s challenge. The group competition remains tight, with South Africa leading, Benin in second, and Nigeria level with Rwanda in third.
The Football Federation has indicated it will monitor permutations closely over the remaining matches and is calling on fans to rally behind the team as it pursues qualification.
