January 04, (THEWILL) – Former Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, remains optimistic regarding the Super Eagles’ qualification prospects for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite acknowledging significant challenges ahead for the team.
Nigeria currently occupies third position in Group C of the World Cup qualification standings, with South Africa maintaining a four-point advantage at the summit following the completion of four matches.
The Super Eagles’ absence from the 2022 Qatar tournament adds context to their current campaign.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sports Tonight programme, Pinnick, who serves on the FIFA Executive Committee, stated, “We believe we would still qualify by God’s grace.
“I speak to the president every other day and I know he is very religious about qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup. It is going to be a tough call.”
The former NFF chief emphasised the Federation’s commitment to maximum effort, noting, “When I say human extreme, on a scale of 1-10, we would get to that 10 and see if we can make it happen. We believe it is divine.”
Pinnick advocated for sustained support of the NFF’s initiatives, stating, “Trust me, they do not want to be where they are now. They want to succeed, move beyond it, and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.”
He maintained that a constructive outlook would benefit the qualification campaign.
The federation also plans to strengthen its technical leadership, with Pinnick revealing, “Any moment from now, I am sure they would be announcing a coach, an enterprising coach at that.”
This appointment could prove crucial for Nigeria’s remaining qualification fixtures.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
