‘We still believe’: Eagles vow to fight till the end for 2026 World Cup ticket

The Super Eagles have reaffirmed the team’s unwavering belief in their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite a challenging campaign that has left Nigeria with just 11 points from eight matches.

With two games remaining, the Eagles face Lesotho in a must win Matchday 9 clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, team captain, Troost-Ekong emphasized the team’s determination and focus.

‘We are going to fight till the end. We believe and we will never stop believing. Two important games now, Friday the first one and after that we get back to Nigeria. We are focused now on Lesotho… we have to win this game, and like I said, we are very optimistic,’ said the Al-Kholood of Suadi Arabia defender.

Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi echoed the captain’s sentiments, stating that the team’s attention is firmly on the Lesotho fixture before turning to their final match against Benin Republic.

‘These two games are very crucial. First of all, we focus on the Lesotho one and then we look towards the Benin one, but the most important now is the Lesotho one,’ said the Besiktas player.

Nigeria’s qualification hopes hinge not only on winning both remaining matches but also on Group C leaders South Africa and Benin Republic dropping points.

The Eagles trail both teams by three points, making Friday’s clash a pivotal moment in their campaign.

Striker Terem Moffi expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to deliver.

‘We are really confident about qualifying for the World Cup. We have to do our part and wait for the result of the other team. So, we’re really confident things will go our way,’ said the Nice of France forward.

The team began training on Tuesday evening with 18 players in camp, increasing to 20 by Wednesday following the arrivals of Zaidu Sanusi and Akor Adams.

Head coach Eric Chelle remains optimistic about the squad’s readiness to secure victory against Lesotho, who are hosting their home fixture in South Africa due to stadium limitations.

Defender Calvin Bassey added that the team is composed and prepared for the pressure.

‘We have to remain calm and do what we have to. This is not the first time… every one of us has been in high pressure moments. I think we have an experienced team to handle the situation, making sure we get everything right,’ said the Fulham of England player.