Can Nigeria still qualify for World Cup 2026? Super Eagles match schedule and what they need to reach FIFA finals | Sporting News

Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup are hanging by a thread.

The Africa Cup of Nations runners-up are winless in their first four matches in CAF Group C, with a 2-1 loss to Benin last time out following three consecutive draws.

Overall, the Super Eagles are winless in their past seven World Cup Qualifiers, a remarkable drought that stretches back to November 2021.

That campaign ended with an away-goals defeat to Ghana in the playoffs and they might not even make it that far this time around.

The final three international breaks of 2024 see Nigeria in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying action, with results in those matches probably going a long way to settling the long-term future of the team’s management before World Cup qualification resumes in March 2025. Caretaker boss Augustine Eguavoen is overseeing these September games following the acrimonious exit of Finidi George, and while results have been decent until now, the real test will come when those CAF qualifiers resume early next year.

The Sporting News takes a look at what Nigeria have to do to salvage their efforts to reach the 2026 World Cup and their upcoming fixtures.

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Can Nigeria still qualify for World Cup 2026? 

Yes, Nigeria can still reach the finals to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. All is not lost just yet, although there is a fast-closing window of opportunity.

The Super Eagles lie fifth in the six-team Group C on three points. On the face of it, that’s a dismal state of affairs, but they are only four points behind second-place South Africa. In turn, Bafana Bafana are only behind leaders Rwanda on goal difference.

Nigeria have six games remaining to turn the ship around, with teams playing one another home and away during the group phase.

The winners of CAF’s nine groups qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the four best runners-up entering the playoff route.

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When is next Nigeria match?

Nigeria’s next match is against Libya in AFCON qualifying on October 15, 2024. They beat the same opponents 1-0 four days earlier thanks to a late goal from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

The Super Eagles beat Benin 3-0 on September 7 and followed that with a more uninspiring 0-0 draw with Rwanda.

Super Eagles schedule

How many African teams will qualify for 2026 World Cup?

Nine African teams are guaranteed a spot at the 2026 World Cup, with the possibility of a 10th taking part.

After the nine group winners from  CAF qualification progress automatically, the four best runners-up will contest a playoff to decide which team advances to the inter-confederation eliminator round.

One representative from each confederation, except for UEFA and with two from CONCACAF as the host federation, will contest the six-team playoff.

The two highest-ranked teams according to FIFA’s world rankings will be seeded for the playoff, which will decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.

The seeded teams will face the winners of two semifinals featuring the four unseeded teams for a place at the tournament.