How Nigeria Can Qualify For 2026 World Cup
By Alofe Ayomoses
Nigeria’s quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains alive following a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Lesotho on Friday. The result revived hopes but left the Super Eagles facing a delicate qualification scenario ahead of the final round of matches.
The win moved Nigeria to third place in Group C with 14 points, trailing South Africa (15 points) and Benin Republic (17 points). Only the group leaders will qualify automatically for the tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Final Showdown Against Benin Republic
The Super Eagles’ fate will be decided when they face Benin Republic on October 14 in what promises to be a tense, all-or-nothing encounter.
To qualify directly, Nigeria must defeat Benin by at least two goals, as the Squirrels maintain a superior goal difference of +5, compared to Nigeria’s +3.
A win by such a margin would push the Eagles level on points with Benin but ahead on goals provided South Africa do not win their own match.
Dependence on South Africa’s Result
Nigeria’s chances also depend heavily on the outcome of South Africa’s fixture against Rwanda.
If Bafana Bafana win, Nigeria’s hopes of topping the group would dim considerably. However, a draw or defeat for South Africa could open the door for Nigeria to leapfrog both rivals — if they deliver a strong performance in Cotonou.
Scenarios for Qualification
With one match left to play, the Super Eagles’ route to the World Cup qualification is clear:
- Beat Benin Republic decisively to overturn the goal deficit.
- Hope South Africa drop points against Rwanda.
- Improve goal difference to stay competitive if teams finish level on points.
Every goal and every point now carries enormous weight as CAF’s new qualification format allows only group winners direct passage to the World Cup, while four best runners-up will advance to the continental play-offs.
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