Waidi Akanni, a former Nigerian international footballer, has voiced a positive outlook on the Super Eagles’ prospects of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stressing the need for steady and reliable performances in their forthcoming fixtures.
After a dominant 4-0 victory against Benin, Nigeria secured second place in their qualifying group, trailing the leaders South Africa by a narrow margin of just one point.
This position means Nigeria is among the best runners-up, who must now navigate the CAF playoff stage to earn a spot at the World Cup.
Speaking at the conclusion of the 1XCUP grassroots tournament held at Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, Akanni highlighted the critical role of maintaining form.
He remarked, “To be frank, the Super Eagles have struggled with consistency, which has been their main challenge. However, if they can sustain their performance over the next three matches, there’s every reason to be optimistic. In football, outcomes remain uncertain until the final whistle. My hope lies in focusing on each game individually.”
On the subject of the national team coach’s tenure, Akanni supported the idea of retaining him. “Absolutely, I believe he deserves to stay on. He has introduced fresh talent and given opportunities to players who weren’t initially expected to feature, which is a sign of positive development,” he concluded.
