By Akinwale Kasali
When the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the continent was drawn in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire last week, the world’s most populous Black Nation, Nigeria, was pitched against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, the Cheetahs, of Benin Republic, the Warriors of Zimbabwe, the Amavubis of Rwanda and the Crocodiles of Lesotho.
The world showpiece to be hosted by the trio of United States of America, Canada and Mexico is the first of its kind in the history of the World Cup since 1930 and football world as a whole.
On paper, South Africa should be the only threat for Nigeria, with the likes of Rwanda, Benin Republic, Rwanda and Lesotho regarded as ‘Minnows’ a stroll in the park for Nigeria.
However, there are no more minnows in football, not only in Africa, but the world at large.
Nigerian football enthusiasts and fans of the Super Eagles are nursing the bruises caused by the unfortunate failure of the Super Eagles to be at the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar, the first ever world showpiece to be hosted by a Middle East country.
It is, however, not negotiable for the National Team not to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
Taking a cursory look at the teams that could stop Nigeria for the third time of not going to the World Cup after making his debut in 1994 in the United States of America, putting into cognizance the performances of the National team in recent time.
It would be recalled that when Nigeria made its debut in 1994, it failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World in Germany and in Qatar 2022, another repeat of such would be a disaster for the Ibrahim Gusau led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
All the teams in the Super Eagles Group aren’t strange, as they are familiar foes.
South Africa has been a threat to Nigeria on several occasions, they had stopped the Super Eagles from qualifying for the 2017 African Cup of Nations, defeating Nigeria 2-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, having played a goalless draw in Pretoria, South Africa.
Also in 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Super Eagles needed a victory to defend its AFCON title earlier won in South Africa, again, the Southern African country forced the Nigerian side to a 2-2 draw to deny the West African giant a place at the continental showpiece.
South Africa and Nigeria have a long history of rivalry in the round leather game, and the Bafana Bafana team have always want to show their Nigerian counterparts that they are no pushovers.
The two legs will be a battle of the Titans as both teams remain one of the highly rated team among the Six and also stand a better chances of qualifying for the Mundial.
The Cheetahs of Benin Republic are the West African neighbours to Nigeria and recently, both team were in the same Group prior to the 2021 AFCON, with the Super Eagles recording a home and away victory.
At the Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola Stadium in Abuja, the Super Eagles won 2-1 courtesy of goals from Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen, while the reverse fixture saw Paul Onuachu scoring a last gasp goal to give the Super Eagles a 1-0 victory.
The Benin Republic team shouldn’t be a threat to the Super Eagles putting into consideration the caliber of players in the fold of Nigeria, but recently abysmal display of the Super Eagles against Sierra Leone, in which the Sierra Leonean team came from 4-0 down to record a 4-4 draw in Nigeria in an AFCON qualifiers.
Weeks back, Sierra Leone came from a 2-0 defeat to almost seal a 2-2 draw, but a last minute strike from Kelechi Iheanacho salvage a 3-2 victory for Nigeria.
Again, the Benin Republic team is handled by former Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, which could be an added advantage for the Beninoise team.
Prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles was pitched alongside Rwanda, Angola, Zimbabwe and Algeria, in which the Super Eagles recorded a 1-1 draw in Kigali, Rwandan Capital, defeating the Rwandans 4-0 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
The Rwandans on paper shouldn’t be a threat to the highly rated Nigerian side, but the team need to be wary as they could be spoilers.
Another Southern African side in the Group, Zimbabwe isn’t a match for the Super Eagles, as the pedigree of array of stars in the fold of the Super Eagles are expected to do the job in Abuja and in Harare.
In 2006, when the Zimbabwean team had Benjani Mwaruwari as their main player, they were defeated 3-0 in Harare and 5-1 in Port Harcourt, so it is expected that the Nigeria side will triumph against their opponent.
The Crocodiles of Lesotho are no stranger to the Super Eagles. In a recent AFCON qualifiers, Nigeria was pitched alongside Lesotho and the Super Eagles defeated the Southern African team 5-2 in Maseru, Lesotho Capital and 2-0 in Abuja.
The Lesotho National Team are seen as a team just in the Group to make up the numbers.
For the Super Eagles to scale through, they need to win all their home matches, win up to two to three away matches and salvage draw in the remaining matches will no doubt give them the ticket for the World Soccer Fiesta.
