By Monsurah Olatunji
Fulham forward Alex Iwobi remains optimistic about Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the team’s rocky start to the qualifiers. Currently in fifth place in Group C after four matches, Nigeria faces a daunting task against group leaders Rwanda in Kigali when international football resumes in March.
The Super Eagles, who last appeared in the World Cup in 2018, have yet to secure a win in Group C, collecting just three points from four matches. However, Iwobi is determined to lead the charge as they fight for a spot in the tournament.
“We know it’s not going to be easy because every team in Africa wants to qualify. Everyone wants to experience the World Cup; it’s the best and biggest competition in the world,” Iwobi told BBC. “It’s like going to war every game, but we’ll put up a fight and try and see what we can do. We’re hungry and motivated.”
The 27-year-old midfielder also addressed the managerial instability that has affected the team in recent months. Despite the changes, Iwobi emphasized that the players must take responsibility for the team’s performance, refusing to use the managerial shifts as an excuse.
“We’ll never use it as an excuse because we can only hold ourselves accountable as players. No matter what manager comes into play, it’s down to us as players to give 100%,” Iwobi concluded.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
