Road to 2026: Ex-Super Eagles star Okpara confident in Nigeria’s World Cup dreams

• Former Super Eagles defender Godwin Okpara is confident Nigeria can still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite a poor start
• Nigeria sits fifth in Group C with just three points from four matches and must win against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March
• New Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle will debut in March, aiming to revive Nigeria’s World Cup hopes with crucial victories

Despite Nigeria’s underwhelming start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, former Super Eagles defender Godwin Okpara remained confident that the team could still secure a ticket to the tournament.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions currently sit fifth in Group C with just three points from a possible 12, a situation that has left many fans anxious. 

However, the team has an opportunity to turn things around in their upcoming March fixtures against group leaders Rwanda and bottom-placed Zimbabwe.

Speaking in an interview recently, Okpara expressed strong belief in the quality of the Nigerian squad, stating that, 

“1v1, Nigeria has better players than the teams in our World Cup group, and I’m confident we will qualify for the tournament next year.”

Okpara, who once played for Paris Saint Germain, emphasised that the fate of qualification still rested in Nigeria’s hands. He urged the players to step up and deliver in their remaining matches,

"It’s still in our hands to qualify, and I have that confidence. We have quality players. This is the time for them to wake up. Player for player, there’s no comparison," he said.

Okpara also mentioned that the desire to play on the world’s biggest football stage should fuel the Super Eagles to fight harder. 

He specifically pointed out that star striker Victor Osimhen, one of Nigeria’s most valuable players, had never played in a World Cup and would be determined to make it happen,

"Has Osimhen played at the World Cup? It’s every player’s dream to play in the World Cup. The whole team wants to qualify," he said.

Beyond the World Cup qualifiers, Okpara also shared his expectations for Nigeria’s 2025 AFCON campaign, stating that he expected the team to progress alongside Tunisia but acknowledged that competition was fierce,

"All nations have upgraded, hiring foreign coaches and fielding players in top leagues abroad," he added.

With Nigeria set to face Rwanda on March 21, 2025, in Kigali, followed by a home clash against Zimbabwe on March 25, 2025, in Uyo, all eyes will be on newly appointed Malian coach Eric Chelle, who aims to guide the Super Eagles back on track.

Onigbinde urges Super Eagles coach Chelle to harness Nigeria’s talent for World Cup success

Previously, TheRadar reported that former national team coach Chief Adeboye Onigbinde has urged newly appointed Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle to effectively manage the country's vast talent pool as he takes on the challenge of leading the Super Eagles.

Despite this abundance of quality, Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign has been disappointing.