Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has admitted that the Super Eagles have not done enough in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Eric Chelle’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night, a result that leaves them in third place in Group C with 11 points from three games.
The result means Nigeria must now win their final two qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic — and also rely on other results — to stand any chance of booking a ticket to the global finals.
Speaking to journalist Osasu Obayiuwana at Bloemfontein Airport, Nwabali expressed frustration at the team’s sluggish start to the qualifiers.
“We, as a team, should have made more effort to qualify for the World Cup. We left it very late,” the Chippa United shot-stopper said.
The Super Eagles have been under pressure since dropping vital points earlier in the campaign, and their fate is no longer entirely in their own hands. Fans and analysts alike have criticised the side’s inconsistency, warning that missing out on a second successive World Cup would be disastrous for Nigerian football.
Nigeria last failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2022, and the current campaign has been seen as a chance at redemption. With just two games remaining, Chelle’s men face the toughest of tasks to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
