How Eritrea's Withdrawal Gave Nigeria Lifeline for 2026 World Cup



The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in action for the final group phase of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with the hope of automatic qualification. The Super Eagles are now back in contention after almost bungling their chance since the beginning of the qualifiers. 

Nigeria drew its first three matches and lost the fourth in what could be described as the worst start int he history of world cup qualifiers. A home draw against minnows- yes minnows- Lesotho kicked off the drab qualifiers and an away draw against Zimbabwe. Then draw against South Africa at home and loss to Benin. A paltry three points from four matches. Hopes seems lost. But as the Super Eagles take on Benin in Uyo on Tuesday, there is hope that a win might prove decisive for Nigeria.

CAF wrote to its federating units on March, the letter just emerged recently that since Eritrea withdrew, their results in that group is cancelled. It thus affects the other groups who are expected to produce the best loser in Africa to join the nine automatic qualifiers for a playoff spot. CAF will now deduct points from all last placed teams in the group. Nigeria loses two points from its two points from Zimbabwe while South Africa and Benin lose four points each. Nigeria has 14 points to be reduced to 12, Benin has 17 points to be reduced to 13 and South Africa has 15 points to be reduced to 11 before the final matches.

Nigeria, currently third in Group C will have to win to have 15 points and top the group and qualify automatically from Group C. Benin would prove a hard nut to crack though Nigeria has had favourable home record against them. But they have Gernot Rohr, who was Nigeria's coach for over five years and knows a little secret about Nigeria. Benin landed in Nigeria Saturday afternoon while the Super Eagles landed in Uyo Sunday morning after the Value Jet Airliner had to return to  Luanda, Angola, after its windscreen got cracked midflight. The Federal Government and the Airliner had 

between South Africa and Rwanda. Nigeria can make it automatically if they win tomorrow!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Search for Common Ground Trains Journalists on Peace Building

Image
A two-day training focussing on conflict sensitive reporting and Digital  Peace Building has ended in Port Harcourt with a call on journalists to sustenance of peace ahead of the 2027 General Election. The training drew participants from the traditional media, print and electronic from Port Harcourt, who are mostly members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, attended. in his lecture, The  Mass Media  and Information Coordinator of Search for Common Ground, Mr Sunny Dada, expressed the need for the participants on the use of digital media, on the topic Digital Peace Building and Media Literacy. Mr Dada harped on the need for journalists to be up the date on the use of digital platforms in carrying out their job. He also urged everyone to be part of the peace process in Rivers State as the country moves to another General Election. He further noted that journalists are not just onlookers, but key actors in the electoral process. He added that journalists are transformative...
Read more

Nigeria Cannot Afford a One Party System

Image
  It is not a secret that the ruling APC is bent on destroying the opposition and coast home in the 2027 General Election. It has dismantled the the opposition PDP and the upcoming ADC that Nigerians fear that the 2027 elections might just be a coronation exercise despite their displeasure with the ruling party. Good for PDP, some people might say, as the then ruling party from 1999 till 2015 introduced impunity into politics. It was then a Behemoth that swallowed all-30 Governors and a trifecta majority in the House of Reps and Senate and the states. The then Chairman late Audu Ogbeh boasted of ruling for 60 years!  They were years when election results were declared in Aso Rock bedrooms and not the constitutionally empowered INEC. PDP started unravelling when the courts had the balls to cancel daylight robberies starting from Anambra State, where Dr Chris Ngige was removed for Peter obi to move in. Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Osun followed suit.  Today, we have staggered gover...
Read more

FIFA U20 World Cup: Argentina Await Flying Eagles Battle in Round of 16

Image
  The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will take on Argentina in the round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The Nigerian lads finished third in Group  to earn a place as one of the best losers after a pulsating 1-1 draw against Colombia early Monday morning. Captain, Daniel Bameyi scored from the penalty spot for his consecutive penalty goal to rescue a point against Colombia, who had scored earlier. Seven-time African champions Nigeria put up an impressive performance against Colombia in the early hours of Monday to reach the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Chile.   Goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt made big saves in the 23 rd  and 26 th  minutes to keep the scoreline pristine in Talca, but the Flying Eagles were the more adventurous side as they hit the upright on a number of occasions, with Tahir Maigana, Kparobo Arierhi and Suleman Sani in full flow for large swatches of the encounter.   Colombia went ahead in the 51 st ...
Read more