Benedict Iroha backs resurgent Super Eagles to seal 2026 World Cup berth

By Dayo Awoniyi

Former Nigeria defender Benedict Iroha has expressed strong belief in Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the team’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Benin Republic.

Though the result was not enough for automatic qualification, it secured Nigeria a place in the CAF playoffs as one of the four best runners-up, keeping their World Cup hopes alive.

The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The Super Eagles are set to face Gabon in a crucial semi-final playoff on November 13 in Morocco.

The winner of that tie will meet either Cameroon or DR Congo on November 16 for a place in the inter-confederation playoffs—Africa’s final path to the World Cup.

“Congratulations to Nigerians for the win, and particularly to the team for fighting hard to win convincingly,” Iroha told Complete Sports.

“That was a fantastic performance by the Super Eagles. The boys really came out as if their lives depended on it, and I’m happy they got the result.”

Iroha, a member of Nigeria’s golden 1994 squad and former assistant coach of the 2007 U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets, praised the team’s renewed sense of purpose and togetherness.

“If they replicate this form in Morocco next month, I’m sure the road to the World Cup will be clear,” he said.

“You may say they left it late, but it’s better late than never. Success is sweeter when it’s earned the hard way.”

The CAF playoff fixtures are scheduled between November 13 and 16 in Morocco. The two semi-final winners will contest a final match on November 16.

The victor will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026, where six teams—from Africa, Asia, South America, Oceania, and two from North/Central America—will compete for the final two World Cup slots.

Should Nigeria progress, they are expected to be seeded, meaning they would need just one more win to secure their place at the global tournament. Iroha’s message was clear, the Super Eagles have rediscovered their rhythm—now they must complete the mission.

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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