The Super Eagle of Nigeria has failed to make it to the World Cup 2026 directly despite winning against Benin at Uyo.
Nigeria did not qualify for Qatar 2022 despite finishing first in their group.
In the 2022 Qualifiers, very group consisted of 4 teams, and so Nigeria in Group C was to play against Cape Verde, Liberia, and the Central African Republic.
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The Super Eagles accumulated 13 points by winning 2-0 against Liberia (Home), 2-1 against Cape Verde (Away), 2-0 against Central Africa(Home), and 2-0 against Liberia(Away).
Nigeria lost 1-0 to the Central African Republic(Away) and drew 1-1 with Cape Verde at Home.
Nigeria scored 9 and conceded 3.
They completed the first phase of the qualifiers by finishing first, so they were to play Ghana, who also finished first in Group G with 13 points, in the play-off per CAF rules.
The first leg was played at the Baba Yara Sport Stadium, a historic slaughter of Black Stars of Ghana, in Kumasi, where Nigeria drew 0-0 with Ghana, and the second leg was a 1-1 draw at Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, and Ghana won with the away goal rule.
Fast forward 3 years later, Nigeria has failed to qualify for the FIFA 2026 World Cup after finishing in the Group with the top spot being Benin/South Africa.
The Super Eagles drew 1-1 for 3 time consecuitively against Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa ammasing on 3 points and won 2-1 against Lesotho, 2-0 and 1-0 against Rwanda (Home and Away), drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe again, 2-1 against Lesotho, drew 1-1 with South Africa again and won 2-1 against Lesotho.
Victor Osimhen fired 3 past Benin in the last match against Benin and Frank Onyeka socred in the stoppage time to make it 4 to help their country gain 17 points but still fell short to South Africa who won 3-0 against Rwanda.
Osimhen was Nigeria’s Top scorer in qualifiers provided 6 goals and 1 Assist.
They stand a chance of playing play-offs but they have to wait for other teams to finish playing all 10 matches.