Nantes forward Moses Simon has voiced his confidence in Nigeria’s potential to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite their challenging position in the qualifying standings.
Since Augustine Eguavoen’s appointment as interim manager, the Super Eagles have shown improvement, securing three wins and a draw, a run that has also clinched their spot at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Struggles Under Previous Management
Prior to Eguavoen’s tenure, the Super Eagles faced a tough period under former coach Finidi George.
Nigeria drew consecutive matches with Lesotho and Zimbabwe last year under Jose Peseiro, and then, under Finidi, managed only a draw against South Africa and a surprising loss to Benin.
These results placed Nigeria in fifth position in their World Cup qualifying group, four points behind Rwanda, with six games left.
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Super Eagles’ Path to Qualification
The Super Eagles now face the task of winning at least five of their remaining matches to secure a World Cup spot.
They will be keenly aware of the disappointment from missing out on the 2022 World Cup, adding extra pressure to their campaign. However, Simon remains hopeful, expressing confidence in the team’s depth and talent.
“We have the quality, we have what it takes to win. We don’t believe that we are not going to the World Cup,” Simon told the BBC.
“The last qualifying games, we missed regular players, and I believe they’ll be there next year to help the team.”
With qualifiers resuming in 2025, Nigeria will face Rwanda (home and away), Zimbabwe (home), South Africa (away), Lesotho (away), and Benin (home).
While the Super Eagles boast a talented roster capable of winning, they’ll need to overcome past inconsistencies to make their World Cup dreams a reality.
