By Wale Mustapha
Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has voiced optimism about Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the Super Eagles’ current struggles in Group C of the African qualifiers.
Nigeria have managed just seven points from six games, leaving them six points adrift of leaders South Africa.
With back-to-back fixtures against Rwanda and the Bafana Bafana, the three-time African champions face a crucial test to revive their campaign.
Dele-Bashiru, named in Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the qualifiers, admitted the challenge is steep but insisted the players are ready to fight for the nation.
“All the players, coaching staff and fans have the same expectations for these upcoming games of the World Cup qualifiers, and that’s to win the games,” Dele-Bashiru told Ademola Victor TV.
“We are in a difficult situation now, six points off the top but everyone knows what we need to do, and that’s what we are going to work towards.
“We’ve got a few more players coming in today, so once the squad is complete, the work really starts, and I’m confident we will get the job done.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash with Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the 23-year-old midfielder had a rallying message for Nigerian fans.
“Just show a lot of belief in us. The game is not over until the final whistle is blown, and the team is going to make everyone proud.”
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.
