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Former Green Eagles player, United States-based, Paul Okoku, says if the Super Eagles fail to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the response by Nigerians must be constructive, particularly, in examining both technical and administrative factors.
LOS ANGELES: Christian Pulisic believes the current US team is the strongest he has been part of, with the AC Milan forward saying the squad’s quality and depth should give Americans plenty of reason for optimism ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
BARCELONA, Spain: Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain maintained their perfect form in World Cup qualifying with a 4-0 win in Georgia on Saturday as they closed in on a berth at next year’s showpiece tournament. Luis de la Fuente’s side has scored 19 times while conceding zero goals in five group victories. The European champion are poised to wrap up a spot in the finals when they meet Turkiye on Tuesday in their last qualifier. Spain lead Group E by three points over Turkiye, which beat Bulgaria 2-0 on Saturday. The only way the Turks could pip Spain for the top spot and grab a direct ticket to the World Cup would be by winning in Seville by a huge margin. A tiebreaker would be decided by goal difference. Spain is on +19, while Turkiye is on +5. The home side didn’t miss injured stars Lamine Yamal, Pedri González or Rodri against the overmatched Georgia. The Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal led Spain with his two goals and an assist.
ANKARA: Turkiye beat Bulgaria 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday to confirm second place in Group E and a spot in the playoffs for next year’s finals. Captain Hakan Calhanoglu put Turkiye ahead in the 18th minute from the penalty spot after a handball.
JOHANNESBURG: Prolific Nigeria scorer Victor Osimhen could be the key figure when they tackle the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday in a fight for 2026 World Cup qualifying survival in Rabat. The winners of the African play-offs final advance to a six-nation intercontinental tournament in Mexico during March that involves each football region except Europe. But the losers will bow out of the contest to be among the record 48 nations that take part in the global showpiece hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Nigeria and DR Congo were among four countries given a second chance to qualify after being the best runners-up from nine African groups. In the semifinals on Thursday, Galatasaray striker Osimhen scored twice in extra time as Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 while Chancel Mbemba snatched a late 1-0 win for DR Congo over Cameroon. Osimhen, the 2023 African Player of the Year, scored a hat-trick last month in a 4-0 triumph over Benin that enabled Nigeria to squeeze into the play-offs. The 26-year-old, who continues to wear a protective mask after suffering serious facial injuries four years ago, posed a constant threat against Gabon and could have notched six goals. On several occasions he came agonizingly close to scoring before, in the last of 12 minutes added time, he fired wide with only goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba to beat. “I was gutted after failing to score from that opportunity.
HELSINKI: Malta snatched their first win in 2026 World Cup qualifying on Friday, converting their only shot on target to stun Finland 1-0 in Helsinki. According to the Malta Football Association, this was only the fourth win ever by Malta in World Cup qualifying. Midfielder Jake Grech came off the bench in the 79th minute and scored the decisive goal three minutes later from the edge of the area. It was only Malta’s second goal in seven qualifiers, against 16 conceded. Finland enjoyed most of the possession and had 14 attempts, even hitting the woodwork. Malta rose to fourth in Europe Group G, five points behind Finland, which can’t qualify.
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia secured a deserved 1–0 victory over Ivory Coast in Jeddah on Friday, with an early strike from Saleh Aboulshamat proving decisive at King Abdullah Sports City.
LUANDA: Lionel Messi scored one goal and laid on another for Lautaro Martinez as Argentina defeated Angola 2-0 in a friendly in Luanda on Friday that marked 50 years of the independence for the hosts. Messi’s pinpoint pass into the box from the right on 43 minutes was drilled into the back of the net by Martinez for his 36th international goal to give the visitors a halftime lead. The same two players combined for the second goal seven minutes from the end when Martinez turned provider as Messi was played into space in the box and struck the ball low into the far corner.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates and Iraq drew 1-1 Thursday in the first leg of their 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff in Abu Dhabi. The teams will travel to the Iraqi port city of Basra for Tuesday’s return match in the fifth round of Asian qualifying. The winner will then advance to FIFA’s intercontinental playoff round in March, when six teams from five confederations will compete for two spots at next summer’s expanded 48-team World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. In front of a sellout crowd of 36,000 at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Iraq — whose only World Cup appearance came in 1986 — took the lead after just 10 minutes. The UAE defense failed to clear a long free kick into the area, allowing the ball to drop to Ali Al-Hamadi. The Luton forward hooked home from close range to give Iraq, coached by former Australia manager Graham Arnold, a 1-0 lead. It lasted only eight minutes.