We should have done more — Nwabali on Super Eagles qualification struggles

Nigeria's Super Eagles are in an almost impossible situation after a series of bad results throughout World Cup qualifying.

Eric Chelle’s side now need the equivalent of a sporting miracle to advance to the World Cup after their 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night.

The result leaves the Super Eagles in third position in Group C with 11 points, trailing Benin Republic and six points behind group leaders South Africa.

With only two matches left in the qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic, Nigeria must now win both games and hope for favorable results elsewhere to have any chance of making it to the 2026 World Cup finals.

Nwabali expressed his disappointment, believing the team should have started the qualifying campaign with more urgency.

“We (as a team) should have made more effort to qualify for the World Cup. We left it very late,” Nwabali told journalist Osasu Obayiuwana at the Bloemfontein Airport.

Should the Super Eagles ultimately fail to qualify, it will be the second consecutive World Cup the nation has missed, after failing to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar.