Road to 2026: How Nigeria can still qualify for world cup after 4-0 win
Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup seemed lost, but on Tuesday, the Super Eagles brought that hope back to life with a surprising and powerful performance.
The team, long plagued by inconsistent performances and poor finishing, found their rhythm at the most crucial moment—hammering Benin Republic 4–0 in a stunning display.
It was a night when everything finally clicked, and Victor Osimhen’s brilliance lit up the pitch.
Osimhen’s heroics inspire unlikely comeback
Osimhen’s hat-trick reminded fans why he’s considered one of the world’s best strikers, while Frank Onyeka sealed the victory with a late strike that sent the crowd into raptures.
The performance felt like something straight out of a Nollywood blockbuster—unbelievable yet real.
Although Nigeria fell short of topping Group C, losing the automatic qualification ticket to South Africa, the Super Eagles’ strong second-place finish ensured they remain in contention through the upcoming playoff rounds according to sport analysts.
Nigeria among four teams for African playoffs
Nigeria will now compete in the CAF playoffs alongside Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo, scheduled to hold in Morocco from 13 to 16 November.
According to CAF’s qualification rules, the top four second-placed teams across the nine groups advanced to this stage.
Eritrea’s withdrawal from Group E led CAF to cancel results against bottom-placed teams in other groups, meaning points earned against such nations were excluded.
This adjustment placed Nigeria fourth among the runners-up with 15 points, ahead of Burkina Faso, thanks to a better goal difference.
How the African playoffs will be decided
The four qualified nations will battle it out in a knockout-style mini tournament. Seeding will be based on the FIFA World Rankings to be released on 23 October.
The highest-ranked team will play the lowest-ranked, while the second and third will face each other.
The semi-finals are set for 13 November, with the winners advancing to the final on 16 November. The eventual champion will represent Africa in the inter-confederation playoffs.
What comes after the African playoffs
Should Nigeria triumph in Morocco, they will move on to the six-team inter-confederational playoffs in March 2026, where two World Cup tickets will be up for grabs.
The playoffs will feature:
Two teams from CONCACAF (North and Central America, Caribbean)
One from AFC (Asia)
One from CONMEBOL (South America)
One from OFC (Oceania)
And the CAF playoff winner
Bolivia and New Caledonia have already secured the South American and Oceanian spots, while Iraq or the United Arab Emirates will represent Asia. The CONCACAF representatives will be determined later in November.
In this final qualification phase, the two highest-ranked teams will receive byes to the finals, while the other four will contest knockout matches. The winners will then face the top two teams, with the victors of those final clashes claiming the last two tickets to the 2026 World Cup.
For now, Nigeria’s fate is back in its own hands. The Super Eagles have soared again—one playoff away from turning a near-impossible dream into reality.
