Nigeria's journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a dramatic tale of near-misses and remarkable comebacks. After failing to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, the Super Eagles' prospects for a return to the global stage looked bleak, having secured only three points from their initial four matches in the qualification race, leaving them fifth in their six-team group. This poor start, coupled with managerial instability and unconvincing performances, led many to write off their chances.

However, a stunning resurgence under new head coach Éric Chelle ignited a powerful turnaround. The team achieved four wins and two draws in their subsequent six matches, propelling them to a second-place finish in their group. While agonisingly short of automatic qualification, this performance was sufficient to earn them a coveted spot in the CAF playoffs, effectively rescuing their campaign from the brink.

Key figures within the team have voiced strong confidence in their ability to complete this extraordinary journey. Alex Iwobi, the 28-year-old Fulham star who represented Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup, expressed immense optimism in an interview with CNN. “We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi stated, highlighting the renewed self-belief. He added, “We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world. We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen). It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

Former Nigeria international and coach Augustine Eguavoen echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the Super Eagles will not take their playoff spot for granted. Speaking to OGTV, Eguavoen conveyed widespread excitement and optimism: “Everybody’s excited. I’m super excited because we all know what it means to be at the World Cup, and we missed out on the last one. We’ve put that behind us now—the boys know exactly what’s at stake; all of us do. I like the unity so far from Nigerians, and getting this qualification into the playoffs now, I think we will not toy with it.” He acknowledged the team's strong momentum, including crucial victories over Lesotho and Benin, stating, “Now that God has given us a lifeline again, we have the quality, we have the personnel and we have everything to go for it. I’m 100% confident that we’ll do it.”

Nigeria now stands as one of four African nations, alongside Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon, vying for a single berth in next March’s intercontinental playoffs. The crucial semi-final tie against Gabon is scheduled for Thursday, November 13, at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. This 22,000-capacity venue, one of Morocco's finest, will host the ninth meeting between Nigeria and Gabon, and their fifth in World Cup qualifying history. The Super Eagles hold a favourable head-to-head record, with five wins, two draws, and only one defeat against Gabon.

In the other semi-final, Cameroon will clash with DR Congo on the same day. The winners of both these fixtures will then meet three days later in the decisive CAF playoff final, with the victor advancing to the final hurdle: the intercontinental playoffs, for a chance to reach the global finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.