How Super Eagles Can Still Qualify for 2026 World Cup

Nigeria’s Super Eagles kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive on Tuesday after a commanding 4–0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo.

A sensational hat-trick from Victor Osimhen and a late strike from Frank Onyeka secured the much-needed win for coach Eric Chelle’s men, ensuring Nigeria finished second in Group C of the African qualifiers.

Despite the emphatic win, the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on automatic qualification after South Africa defeated Rwanda 3–0 in Nelspruit to top the group. Under the current format, only group winners qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, while the runners-up advance to the play-off stage.

Nigeria’s Play-Off Path

Following the conclusion of the group stage, all nine second-placed teams will be ranked to determine the top four that progress to the African play-offs.

With Eritrea’s withdrawal from Group E, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled that only results against the top five teams in each group will count toward the final ranking.

For Nigeria, this means that points earned against Zimbabwe, who finished bottom of Group C, will be excluded. The Super Eagles will therefore have 15 points (after deducting two points from matches against Zimbabwe) and a +7 goal difference, putting them in a strong position among the runners-up.

The Numbers Game

Based on current standings across all groups:

Burkina Faso (Group A) – 15 points, GD +6

Cameroon (Group D) – 15 points, GD +9

Niger (Group E) – 15 points, GD +1

Uganda (Group G) – 12 points, GD +2

Namibia (Group H) – 9 points, GD -2

Madagascar (Group I) – 13 points, GD 0


With Gabon and DR Congo still playing their final matches in Groups B and F, Nigeria is expected to remain within the top four second-placed teams, ensuring a place in the CAF play-off semi-finals.

What Happens Next

The top four runners-up will be paired for semi-final matches, based on FIFA rankings the highest-ranked team facing the lowest, and the second-highest meeting the third. The two winners will then contest a final play-off to determine Africa’s representative at the inter-confederation play-offs.

The inter-confederation stage, scheduled for March 2026, will feature six teams from five continents vying for the final two World Cup slots.

For Nigeria, the path to the 2026 World Cup remains open. Their dominant performance in Uyo has reignited hope that the Super Eagles could still soar onto football’s biggest stage one decisive match at a time.