jasdooit

Nigeria’s Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has stated that the country still holds onto dreams of advancing to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even with the ambiguity surrounding their qualification efforts.

During an interview on SuperSport Football on Thursday, the 29-year-old discussed the emotional impact of the qualification process and the challenge the team would face if required to decide between continental achievements and a World Cup spot.

When asked if Nigeria would exchange an Africa Cup of Nations victory for a spot in the world tournament, Iwobi mentioned that the choice was made difficult due to the different experiences among the team members.

He stated, “I mean, we’re still waiting, hopefully we’ll be able to attend the World Cup.”

But I believe it’s a challenging task. It’s difficult because winning the AFCON is like… it’s a remarkable legacy, a significant achievement, a memorable moment in your career.

But then again, since I’ve already been to the World Cup, many of the players haven’t. They might want to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and have my teammates miss out on the World Cup. So it’s a difficult situation.

Iwobi, who was a member of Nigeria’s team during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, mentioned that the eagerness of numerous players to participate in football’s premier event significantly influenced the team’s overall mental approach.

The remarks follow Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign, which took place in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026, as the Super Eagles were eliminated before reaching the final.

Nigeria’s elimination from the World Cup qualifiers came after a 1-1 tie against DR Congo in the playoff final held in Rabat, yet the Leopards progressed by securing a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout, qualifying for the inter-confederation playoffs scheduled for March 2026.

The NFF filed a complaint with FIFA, claiming that multiple players from the Democratic Republic of Congo were not eligible according to the qualification regulations.

The football officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo dismissed the allegations, stating that all players had been approved to compete by FIFA, and called for the outcome to be acknowledged.

By late January, the petition remained under consideration by FIFA, as advocates continued to believe a decision might allow Nigeria to qualify for the finals, possibly by removing DR Congo if eligibility violations are confirmed.

NFF officials are reportedly waiting for a reply from the global football authority, despite ongoing uncertainty regarding Nigeria’s path to the 2026 event.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).