National Teams

Nigeria’s friendlies against Venezuela, Colombia in doubt after World Cup playoff seal

Published

1 week ago

11:18 am

Nigeria’s friendlies against Venezuela, Colombia in doubt after World Cup playoff seal

By Dayo Awoniyi

The planned international friendlies between Nigeria and South American sides Venezuela and Colombia may be cancelled following the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff round, sources close to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have indicated.

Nigeria booked their place in the final phase of CAF qualifiers after a resounding 4–0 win over Benin Republic in their final group-stage match. The result saw the Super Eagles finish second in their group, securing a ticket to the crucial playoff round.

The NFF is now reportedly reconsidering its November fixture schedule to allow head coach Eric Chelle sufficient time to prepare for what could be a defining moment in the team’s World Cup qualification journey.

The upcoming playoffs will see Nigeria face tough opposition, with Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo drawn as potential rivals for a spot at the tournament.

The matches are expected to take place around the same period the friendlies had been slated for, raising concerns over fixture congestion, travel demands, and the risk of player fatigue.

While the NFF has yet to issue an official statement, discussions are believed to be ongoing regarding the cancellation or rescheduling of the friendlies to prioritize focused preparation for the playoff campaign.

Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to shift full attention to squad development and tactical refinement ahead of the decisive matches, as Nigeria looks to return to the FIFA World Cup after missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.

An official announcement on the status of the November friendlies is expected in the coming days.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.

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Nigeria’s friendlies against Venezuela, Colombia in doubt after World Cup playoff seal

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