Super Eagles Still Hopeful for 2026 World Cup Playoff

Mallam Shehu Dikko, the boss of the Nigerian Sports Commission (NSC), stated that the Super Eagles are not completely out of contention for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs despite recent developments favoring the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). FIFA released a list of six teams expected to compete for the final two spots in the expanded tournament, which raised concerns among Nigerian fans about the Super Eagles' chances.

Dikko emphasized that Nigeria has not lost hope in the qualification race, as FIFA has yet to make a final decision regarding Nigeria's complaint about the eligibility of a DR Congo player during their previous encounter. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has filed an official complaint, arguing that the match result should be overturned in Nigeria's favor.

The intercontinental playoff tournament is scheduled to take place in Mexico from March 26 to March 31, where DR Congo will face the winner of the match between Jamaica and New Caledonia.