As it was in 2001 and 2009, when the Super Eagles overcame near-death situations to qualify for the 2002 and 2010 FIFA World Cup competitions in Korea/Japan and South Africa, respectively, so also has it become in the race for the 2026 edition, billed to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Today, millions of football-loving Nigerians, as well as their Benin Republic and South African counterparts, will be waiting and praying fervently for their teams to pick the win they need to remain in contention, while wishing the other two to falter in the race for the lone ticket in Group C.
The games will be held simultaneously in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where Nigeria will entertain the Cheetahs, while Nespruit is the venue of the South Africa/Rwanda clash.
If Nigeria overcomes Benin Republic and South Africa loses to Rwanda, the Super Eagles will pick the sole ticket, while a draw will hand the ticket to Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic.
On the other hand, a South African victory and a Super Eagles win in Uyo will drive the Bafana Bafana to North America next year. Benin Republic have 17 points, South Africa are on 15 and Nigeria are on 14 points.
The Super Eagles are not new to this type of mathematical permutation, as the current scenario evokes memories of past qualification miracles.
In 2001, Nigeria overcame a precarious position after losses to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Then, the Super Eagles were five points behind Liberia, when the trio of coach Shuaibu Amodu, Stephen Keshi and Joe Erico (all late) were invited to carry out a rescue mission. They did, as Nigeria suddenly turned the table around.
First, the Super Eagles responded with a 2-0 win over Liberia in Port Harcourt, with Kanu Nwankwo and Victor Agali scoring the goals, and followed up with a 4-0 demolition of Sudan in Omdurman with Yakubu Aiyegbeni netting a brace after Austin Okocha opened the scoring and Julius Aghahowa netted the fourth goal.
Next, the Super Eagles secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Ghana Black Stars with Victor Agali netting in the very first minute and Tijjani Babangida scoring a brace (18th and 32th minutes) to book their place at the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan.
Again, in 2009, a similar scenario unfolded in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa. Tunisia led the group for most of the campaign, but a stoppage-time goal by Obinna Nsofor against Mozambique in Abuja kept Nigeria’s hopes alive.
On the final day, the Super Eagles travelled to Nairobi, where they defeated the host, Harambee Stars 3-2. While the match was going on in Nairobi, millions of Nigerians stayed glued to their television sets, praying for Mozambique to beat Tunisia. It came to pass, as Mozambique scored a late winner in Maputo to stun Tunisia, and in the process, send Nigeria to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Today, in Uyo, the challenge comes against a tiny West African neighbour, the Benin Republic, who are coached by Gernot Rohr, the Franco-German tactician who led Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
His intimate knowledge of the Super Eagles adds another layer of intrigue to this battle in Uyo. Last Friday, the Super Eagles secured a 2-1 victory over Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, with goals from Captain William Troost-Ekong from the penalty spot and debutant Jerome Akor Adams, who marked his first appearance with a goal that sealed the win.
The result keeps Nigeria firmly in contention, though they remain three points behind group leaders Benin Republic, who snatched a late win against Rwanda in Kigali.
To qualify automatically, Nigeria must defeat the Cheetahs of the Benin Republic by at least two goals and hope South Africa fail to beat Rwanda in Nelspruit.
Rwanda is already out of the permutation, after losing at home to the Benin Republic, last Friday. The “prayer point” for millions of Nigerians now is that Rwanda must beat South Africa or, at worst, pick a draw in Nelspruit today.
Nigeria, which missed the last edition of the World Cup in Qatar, have not failed to qualify in two consecutive FIFA World Cup finals since first reaching the finals in 1994. They will throw everything into today’s battle.
Regardless of their surprising third place in the group going into the final matchday, Nigeria is the only one among the three contenders that has lost only one match. Both Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, who have 15 points and host Rwanda’s Amavubi, have each lost two matches.
The chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Vincent Okumagba, told The Guardian, yesterday, that he is optimistic the Super Eagles will get their acts right against the Benin Republic, in Uyo.
“Our prayer is that Rwanda must live up to expectations against South Africa in Nelspruit because if Bafana Bafana should win, it means all the goals we score against Benin in Uyo will be useless. But our immediate responsibility is to support the Super Eagles to win with at least 2-0 or more in Uyo,” Okumagba stated.
Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Omar will officiate the match, supported by compatriots Mahmoud Abouelregal, Ahmed Tawfik Ali, and Mahmoud Moustafa Elbana.
Jason Joseph Damoo from Seychelles will serve as referee assessor, Ghana’s Prosper Harrison Addo will act as commissioner, and Xolile Vilakati from Eswatini will oversee security operations.
