Midfielder Alex Iwobi voiced optimism Thursday about the Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, as the team awaits a FIFA ruling on their protest alleging ineligible players in DR Congo’s squad during a decisive playoff.
The appeal stems from Nigeria’s 4-3 penalty shootout loss to DR Congo in the AFCON 2025 playoff final in Rabat, following a 1-1 draw, which denied the West Africans a direct berth to the global tournament co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Iwobi, speaking to SuperSport Football, said: “I mean, we’re still waiting, hopefully we can go to the World Cup.”
Reflecting on the trade-off between AFCON glory and World Cup participation, the 29-year-old added: “But I feel it’s a tough one. It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have, like in your career, a memorable moment. But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one.”
Iwobi drew from his own appearance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, noting many teammates lack that experience and yearn for the international stage.
DR Congo officials rebuffed the claims, asserting all players were cleared by FIFA and calling for acceptance of the result.
The Nigerian Football Federation’s late January petition remains under FIFA review, with no decision timeline announced, leaving the Super Eagles’ fate hanging as they eye a potential lifeline to the expanded 48-team tournament.
