Nigerian international and Nantes winger Moses Simon has voiced his belief in Nigeria’s potential to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite a rocky start in the qualifiers.
With the Super Eagles currently in a difficult spot, Simon remained optimistic about their chances of reaching the global stage, set to take place across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
The Super Eagles’ recent form under interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has offered a glimmer of hope, with three wins and a draw, earning Nigeria a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Eguavoen’s leadership has brought stability after a challenging period under former coaches Jose Peseiro and Finidi George, during which the team faced a string of lackluster performances.
Under Peseiro, the Super Eagles drew against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. The trend continued with Finidi, as Nigeria drew with South Africa and suffered an unexpected loss to Benin, putting them 5th in their qualifying group, four points behind leaders Rwanda, with six games remaining.
Reflecting on the team’s setbacks, Simon remained confident that Nigeria’s roster could rise to the occasion. ” We have the quality, we have what it takes to win,” he told the BBC. “We don’t believe that we are not going to the World Cup.”
One factor contributing to Simon’s optimism is the anticipated return of key players who missed recent matches. Their presence, he believes, could strengthen the squad’s World Cup pursuit in 2025, when qualifiers resume.
“The last qualifying games, we missed regular players and I believe they’ll be there next year to help the team.”
Nigeria is set to face Rwanda (home and away), Zimbabwe (home), South Africa (away), Lesotho (away), and Benin (home), and they must secure at least five wins from these encounters to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
For Nigeria, the road to the World Cup is steep, but Simon’s confidence reflected the teams’ desire to reclaim its status on the world stage after missing the 2022 tournament.
