Nigeria are at critical danger of not qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that can happen in the USA, Mexico and Canada subsequent summer time. The Tremendous Eagles, by far one of the vital proficient rosters among the many African nationwide groups, will face Benin on Tuesday at midday ET in an important match for his or her World Cup hopes. It is the the final match of the group part for qualification and they’re at present in third place of Group C of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) first spherical with 14 factors, whereas Benin are on the high of the group with 17 and South Africa in second place with 15 factors after 9 video games.
On high of this, the airplane carrying the Nigerian squad from South Africa was compelled to make an emergency touchdown in Angola on Saturday, in response to the Nigerian press. The flight took off from Polokwane in South Africa and made a refuelling cease in Angola earlier than leaving for Nigeria once more, however 25 minutes after they took off, the airplane was compelled to return in Angola after, “a heavy crack on the plane’s windshield distorted what had began as a easy flight,” the Nigerian FA introduced. Let’s now check out what can occur in the event that they win towards Benin.
Let’s run by the situations forward of the Tremendous Eagles.
Nigeria qualification situations?
If Nigeria lose on Tuesday they may formally be out of the World Cup, one thing that will most likely mark one of many lowest factors of the African nationwide workforce, contemplating the worth of their roster. Successful is the one choice Nigeria have forward of Tuesday’s sport, however even successful may not assure them a spot within the World Cup instantly.
Benin at present lead Group C by three factors and have a two-goal benefit on objective distinction. In concept if Nigeria hand Benin a heavy sufficient defeat, and if South Africa lose they might nonetheless high the group. South Africa had been handed a three-point deduction by FIFA earlier this yr for fielding an additional participant towards Lesotho, complicating Bafana Bafana’s path to the 2026 World Cup and conserving Nigeria’s hopes of instantly qualifying alive. Nonetheless, South Africa’s opponents on Tuesday are Rwanda, who’ve already been eradicated from rivalry and sit fifth within the six workforce group.
If Rwanda do not get it achieved for them, however Nigeria win and end second within the group, they would not be eradicated from rivalry, however they’re going to have a protracted street forward of them. The highest 4 second place groups from the 9 qualifying teams will play a knockout match to find out which ones then progress to the intercontinental playoff. That playoff will award two complete spots to the six groups that qualify for it. So to sum up, Nigeria must win, then both they want Rwanda to beat South Africa which might imply Nigeria qualify routinely, or they should hope they end within the high 4 of the 9 runners-up in CAF qualifying. In the event that they do make the highest 4, they then must outlast three different groups to qualify for the intercontinental playoff, which can award two slots to the winners of the six workforce match. Easy.
CAF Group C Standings
| Rank | Membership | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benin | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 17 | |
| 2 | South Africa | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 15 | |
| 3 | Nigeria | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 14 | |
| 4 | Lesotho | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 12 | |
| 5 | Rwanda | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 11 | |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 5 |
