Nigeria’s road to the Football World Cup, via Morocco
Nigeria needed a big win on the final matchday against Benin to reach the continental play-offs, and the route to 2026 doesn’t get any easier from here. More competition and teams just as determined to book their place in North America.
Should Nigeria beat Gabon and win in the subsequent CAF play-off final three days later, they will progress to the six-man team. FIFA Play-Off Tournament in March 2026.
They would likely be seeded (reserved for the two highest ranked teams), skip the semi-finals and advance to the final, where the winners of the two final matches would qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
There may be pressure, even if Chukwueze is full of conviction. It was a season of limited playing time, having made one appearance for Italian giants Milan before being loaned out to English Premier League club Fulham, where he made five substitute cameos. Now the goal focuses on delivering for his country and getting closer to the World Cup.
The 26-year-old said of the transition between club and international football: “It’s actually not difficult because when you play for your club and come to your country you are so happy to play for your country.
“There are so many people who want to be where you are because Nigeria has so many fantastic players playing all over the world. So when they call on you, it shows that you have worked hard. You have to fight for every moment, you have to show them why you deserve to be there.”
It is certainly not an easy road – there may still be four games ahead for the Chelle side – and yet it is one that the African giants cannot afford to miss, with the risk of consecutive absences from the football finals. All attention will be on Rabat, where one country will be within striking distance of the FIFA World Cup.
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