By John Egbokhan
For finishing second in their World Cup qualifying group, the Super Eagles have been handed a playoff clash against Gabon in their quest to book a ticket to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be played in USA, Canada and Mexico
In what before looked like an almost impossible mission some months back, the Super Eagles, inspired by an imperious Victor Osimhen, flew their way back to reckoning as they earned two priceless wins in their last two qualifying games in the group, to join a set of four African teams to advance to the playoff round, holding next month in Morocco.
On Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in Akwa Ibom, the Super Eagles thrashed nearby neighbours Benin Republic 4-0, to progress to the playoff round, breathing life back to their World Cup qualifying campaign and giving hope to Nigerian fans that nall hope is not yet lost on seeing the Super Eagles roll among the big boys in an expanded 48-nation FIFA World Cup in north America.
The road to the North Americas World Cup holding in less than a year from now, may not have been confirmed at the moment but one thing that is certain is that the Super Eagles have got a real fighting chance to stake their claim for a participating spot in the next Mundial, which is already generating a big buzz and razzmatazz that the world has even seen since the start of qualifying campaigns for World Cup finals.
And the first task facing the Coach Eric Chelle led Eagles side is to get victory over central African foes Gabon next month, with Eagles slightly having the edge, given a resurgence in form of the players, especially Galatasaray star forward, Victor Osimhen, who fired in three unstoppable goals against Benin Republic on Tuesday.
Frank Onyeka also got on the scoring party to add the cherry on the Eagles cake in the conquest of the Squirrels of Benin Republic, handled by Franco-German coach, Gernot Rohr, an erstwhile coach of the Super Eagles, whose inside knowledge of the Nigerian system, having worked with the team in the not too distant past, counted for nothing on the crunch match day in Uyo.
Having inspired Super Eagles to rediscover their flying wings on a rough qualifying campaign for the FIFA World Cup, Nigerians would be placing their hopes on Osimhen to help fire the team past Gabon, as the race to gatecrash into the Mundial enters home stretch.
To get to the African playoff round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Gabon defeated Burundi, with two very late goals, the first by Neyo Ngoua after 86 minutes and the second through the boot of Lemina in the 91st minute. For their last-gasp effort that helped them finish second in the group, the Gabonese will now face a tougher task against the Super Eagles on November 13th in Morocco..
Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo will play the other playoff game in Morocco
The winners of the final advance to the intercontinental playoffs, where six teams from CAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, OFC, and two from CONCACAF will compete.
All eyes will now be firmly fixed to see how these two nations brace up for what promises to be a tantalizing tussle in the first playoff encounter that sets the tone for the remaining games to be navigated by these teams in order to make the World Cup party next year, with Osimhen spoiling for war and blood as he attempts to avoid a consecutive World Cup no-show by the Super Eagles.
