How Nigeria can still qualify if Eagles finish second in Group C

Super Eagles players and officials during a breakfast meeting organised by one of the national team’s sponsors, Peak Milk, ahead of the just-concluded first phase of the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.

It is not yet time for permutations in the race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but pundits have already started looking at the possible scenarios the country could take advantage of if the Super Eagles fail to win Group C of the African qualifying series as expected.

Nigeria was tipped to easily win the group, which also houses Rwanda, Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe, owing to the array of starts available for selection and its status in international football. But the Super Eagles have barely moved off the block, drawing its first two matches to minnows, Lesotho (at home) and Zimbabwe in neutral Rwanda.

These results have alarmed followers of the Nigerian game that they have started thinking of other ways of getting to the Copa du Mundo if the Eagles finish second in Group C.

According to South Africa’s ThatoBosoga, who writes for Soccer Laduma, “despite having 10 slots for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, the African block is still one of the most difficult to qualify from, as only the top teams in the nine groups qualify automatically after the final round-robin matchdays between October 6 and 14, 2025.

“From there, only one spot will be up for grabs to make it to the World Cup, as the best four runners-up across the nine groups will play two once-off semifinals and a final. Then the winner will go to the FIFA Play-off tournament.

“The CAF Play-off tournament will hold between November 10 to 18, 2025, where the winner will be among six nations in the FIFA Play-off tournament, with two countries set to qualify for the