Eagles Will Still Qualify For 2026 Mundia — Olopade
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, is optimistic the Super Eagles will still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite dropping two points at home last Tuesday against Zimbabwe.
Olopade spoke with The Guardian on Friday, in Lagos, just as former Green Eagles winger, Adegoke Adelabu said that majority of the present crop of Super Eagles players might miss the ‘lifetime opportunity’ of featuring in the World Cup if Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“I felt so sad that we drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Uyo, but it is not the end of the road for Nigeria,” Olopade said. “It will look like a magic. Nigeria will be in the 2026 World Cup. All we need do now is for the Super Eagles to win all their remaining four matches.”
Only two players in the present Super Eagles squad, William Troost-Ekong and Wilfred Ndidi have featured in the World Cup. Nigeria failed to qualify for the last edition held in Qatar, and unless a miracle happens, might miss the 2026 edition to be co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico. If such bad scenario plays out, a majority of the players may not be in active service to feature in the 2030 edition of the World Cup.
For Adelabu, the dream of every footballer is to participate in the World Cup.
“Playing in the World Cup is the climax of football participation, though it is not the only index for acknowledging the wonderful years of football history of a player or nation,” he said.
Adelabu, a former Green Eagles winger, now a sports scientist, stated that the greatness of sports men and women is their total contribution to the joy and excitement of the spectators’ emotional attachment to sports.
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“Their names would remain in the history of those who played for Nigeria and we will forever be grateful to them. Failing to qualify for two consecutive World Cups will remain a sad moment for the players because most of the players that would play in the World Cup are their colleagues in various leagues across the world. I pray we win all or remaining four matches and see if any slim chance of qualifying can still come our way,” Adelabu, who played club football in IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan stated.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray of Turkey striker, Victor Osimhen, has explained why he left the Godswill Akpabio stadium pitch in anger after the 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
“I can’t lie, I was frustrated. That match against Zimbabwe? We should have won it. We had the lead, we controlled the game, and then just like that, we let it slip.
“When I scored, I felt relief. I thought, yes, this is it. We’re taking three points home. But football can be cruel. A last-minute equaliser, just seconds away from victory, shattered everything. The whistle blew, and I just couldn’t hold back my emotion.”
“Boniface tried to calm me down, but at that moment, I didn’t want to hear anything. I walked away, not out of disrespect, but because I was hurting. I give my all every time I step on that pitch, not just for myself, but for my team, for Nigeria, for the fans who believe in us.
“We needed that win. We needed those points. Now, we have to fight even harder to qualify for the World Cup. It’s not over, but we can’t keep making the same mistakes. I just want us to be better, to do better, because Nigeria deserves nothing less,” Osimhen was quoted by PrinceBlogg.
