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Football enthusiasts in Lagos shared varied sentiments on Monday about Nigeria’s prospects for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the Super Eagles face a critical match against South Africa.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), fans expressed uncertainty about Nigeria’s chances, given the team’s current standing and past performances.
Nigeria, currently third in their group with 10 points, trails Benin (11 points) and group leaders South Africa (16 points) ahead of a pivotal clash in Bloemfontein.
Sportscaster Kinlu Awopetu remained cautiously optimistic, noting the team’s recent improvement.
“The Super Eagles showed promise in their last game against Rwanda, so there’s still hope,” he said.
“Beating South Africa is a tough challenge, but it’s achievable if we elevate our performance.”
Awopetu criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for recurring issues, stating, “The NFF’s repeated mistakes have put us in this precarious position, just like in past qualifications.”
Football analyst Timothy Henry was less hopeful, describing the upcoming match as a formidable challenge.
“Facing Bafana Bafana at home is nearly impossible,” he told NAN.
“South Africa has become a strong side, playing with confidence and less pressure. A loss or draw could end our campaign, much like our failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.”
Henry added, “It’s disheartening to see such a talented squad struggle to secure a World Cup spot, which is crucial for Nigeria’s reputation in African football.”
Fan Dosu Joseph echoed the concerns, emphasizing the match’s importance.
“The situation is tough and could have been avoided,” he said.
“The team must deliver an exceptional performance against South Africa, or our World Cup dreams are over.” (NAN)
Source: NationalAccordNewspaper | Read the Full Story…
