Football fans in Lagos have expressed mixed feelings about Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the Super Eagles prepare for a must-win clash against South Africa in Bloemfontein.
Nigeria sits third in Group standings with 10 points, behind Benin on 11 and leaders South Africa on 16. The team must defeat Bafana Bafana to keep their hopes alive.
Sportscaster Kinlu Awopetu said the Super Eagles still had a fighting chance following their last victory over Rwanda. “All hope is not lost. We must defeat South Africa, but the NFF has again put us in a tight spot because they never seem to learn from past mistakes,” he said.
Football analyst Timothy Henry was less optimistic, describing the task as daunting. “Beating South Africa at home looks almost impossible. A loss or draw ends our campaign, just like when we failed to qualify for Qatar 2022. It will be sad to waste such a talented squad,” he said.
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dosu Joseph said the team must rise to the occasion. “We can only hope they raise their game against South Africa with a good result. Otherwise, this will be the end of our qualification,” he warned.
(NAN)