Super Eagles forward, Moses Simon remains optimistic about Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to fight for a ticket to the tournament.
The winger expressed hope that the team will qualify, highlighting the squad’s determination and readiness to fight for a spot in the World Cup.
A Rocky Road So Far
Currently, the Super Eagles find themselves in a precarious position in their World Cup qualifying group. With just 3 points from 4 matches, they sit fifth on the table, a mere point above the bottom team.
Nigeria’s struggles in the qualifiers began with back-to-back draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe under former coach José Peseiro.
This was followed by another draw against South Africa, and a shock 2-1 defeat to Benin with Finidi George at the helm.
Signs of Improvement Under Eguavoen
However, since Augustine Eguavoen took over as interim manager, the Super Eagles have shown a resurgence in form.
Super Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Ogunmodede with winger Moses Simon, during a training session. Photo | X (CoachDan_Ijabal)
The team has gone unbeaten, recording three wins and one draw, leaving them just a point away from securing a spot at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite this turnaround, the challenge for World Cup qualification remains steep.
With six matches left in the qualifiers set to resume in 2025, the Super Eagles have significant ground to cover and must aim to win almost all remaining games to keep their hopes alive.
Simon’s Optimism Amidst the Challenge
Despite the current situation, Moses Simon believes the team has what it takes to qualify for the next World Cup, set to take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
“We have the quality, we have what it takes to win,” Simon told the BBC.
“We We don’t believe that we are not going to the World Cup.
“The last qualifying games, we missed regular players and I believe they’ll be there next year to help the team.”
Nigeria’s absence from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after losing the playoff ticket to rivals Ghana was a bitter pill to swallow.
Missing out on another World Cup would be disastrous, and the players are fully aware of the stakes.
Although the Super Eagles have made things difficult for themselves, they aren’t ready to give up on their pursuit of a World Cup berth.
If the team can maintain its current form into next year, there is a glimmer of hope that Nigeria can make it to the global stage once again.
