Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick acknowledges that it would be a “tough” route for the 2013 African champions. Still, he is optimistic about the Super Eagles’ chances of making it to the 2026 World Cup.
Four points behind leaders Rwanda, after four rounds of play, the Super Eagles, eliminated from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, are currently in fifth place in Group C of the competition’s qualifying race.
Nigeria’s chances of travelling to the United States, Mexico, and Canada next year are still bright, according to Pinnick, a member of the FIFA Executive Committee.
“By God’s grace, we think we would still be eligible,” he stated on Friday’s Sports Tonight broadcast on Channels Television.
“Speaking with the NFF president every other day, I know his strong religious beliefs on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification. The decision will be difficult. No Nigerian should have their hopes up that we will be eligible. But we would go to the limit of our humanity. Using a scale of 1 to 10, we would reach the human extreme and try to make it happen. We think it’s divine.”
Pinnick appealed for assistance, stating that the NFF is making every effort to keep the federation functioning.
“They do not wish to be in their current situation, I assure you. The previous head of the Delta Football Association stated on the sports program, “They want to succeed, move past it, and make Nigerians happy.”
“So, let’s not think badly and just wait and see. Let’s examine the bright side and see how we may qualify,” Pinnick stated.
He claims that the NFF will soon name a substantive coach for the Super Eagles.
“They would undoubtedly be announcing a coach in a moment and an enterprising coach at that,” he remarked.
