Former Super Eagles stars, Etim Esin and Femi Ajilore have backed Nigeria to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite acknowledging the difficulty of the task ahead of Tuesday’s decisive clash with Benin Republic in Uyo.
Esin, who earned 24 caps for Nigeria and was part of the squad that won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, admitted the Super Eagles’ fate being dependent on other results makes qualification very difficult, lamenting that the team should not have allowed the campaign to reach such a critical stage.
“We have a chance, but it’s all up to them, and now that we need the other results to save us, it will be very difficult. We shouldn’t have let it get to this stage. We have back to back African Player of The Year,” he said.
Ajilore, who represented Nigeria at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a silver medal, acknowledged the difficulty but urged the team to maintain the Nigerian spirit of never giving up until the final whistle.
“It will be very difficult, but as a Nigerian, I know we have that spirit of not giving up until the last whistle. For us, we have to win. What is very important is that we win our game, all other factors should not be in our mind now. We just have to win our game and do all we can to make it,” he told our correspondent.
Ajilore warned that missing back-to-back World Cups would be disappointing and shameful for Nigeria as a footballing nation, saying, “If we miss back to back World Cups, it is going to be a disappointing one.
“Even at this stage, some people are already feeling disappointed, but of course, it is not over yet. If we don’t make it, it is a shame for Nigeria as a footballing nation.”
Nigeria sit third in Group C with 14 points, trailing South Africa on 15 and leaders Benin Republic on 17. The Super Eagles must defeat the Cheetahs convincingly and hope South Africa fail to beat Rwanda if they are to top the group and secure automatic qualification.
Credit: punchng.com
