Playing at World Cup is climax of footballers’ career, says Adelabu

Eagles Will Still Qualify For 2026 Mundia — Olopade
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, is optimistic the Super Eagles will still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite dropping two points at home last Tuesday against Zimbabwe.

Olopade spoke with The Guardian on Friday, in Lagos, just as former Green Eagles winger, Adegoke Adelabu said that majority of the present crop of Super Eagles players might miss the ‘lifetime opportunity’ of featuring in the World Cup if Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

“I felt so sad that we drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Uyo, but it is not the end of the road for Nigeria,” Olopade said. “It will look like a magic. Nigeria will be in the 2026 World Cup. All we need do now is for the Super Eagles to win all their remaining four matches.”

Only two players in the present Super Eagles squad, William Troost-Ekong and Wilfred Ndidi have featured in the World Cup. Nigeria failed to qualify for the last edition held in Qatar, and unless a miracle happens, might miss the 2026 edition to be co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico. If such bad scenario plays out, a majority of the players may not be in active service to feature in the 2030 edition of the World Cup.

For Adelabu, the dream of every footballer is to participate in the World Cup.

“Playing in the World Cup is the climax of football participation, though it is not the only index for acknowledging the wonderful years of football history of a player or nation,” he said.

Adelabu, a former Green Eagles winger, now a sports scientist, stated that the greatness of sports men and women is their total contribution to the joy and excitement of the spectators’ emotional attachment to sports.

“Their