There is a real possibility Nigeria will not play at the 2026 World Cup.
The last time the Super Eagles featured in the tournament was in 2018.
The three-time African champions were missing in 2022 when it was held in Qatar. It came down to a two-legged play-off against fierce rivals, Ghana. The first leg in Kumasi ended goalless. In Abuja, the Black Stars held on for a 1-1 draw.
The quest to play at the next one in Mexico, USA and Canada didn’t start well.
Nigeria were held to a 1-1 home draw by Lesotho in their Group C opener, before coming from behind to draw again with Zimbabwe in their second match.
Between those matches and Friday’s clash with South Africa in Uyo, Jose Peseiro left his role as head coach and was replaced by Finidi George.
Finidi’s starting XI to face Bafana Bafana was quite interesting. Paul Onuachu, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho started in attack with Alex Iwobi behind them. In Victor Osimhen’s absence, Victor Boniface was expected to spearhead the attack. But he was left on the bench along with Terem Moffi and Samuel Chukwueze.
Themba Zwane opened the scoring, after tip-toeing his way through Nigeria’s defence. And although Fisayo Dele-Bashiru equalized with his first international goal, there was no comeback.
“I think it was a decent performance, considering how little time Finidi has had with the team,” Clinton McDubus, a top football analyst and podcaster said..
“He got some things wrong, like Onuachu, who did nothing for us even if we won a few fouls from it.
“In fact, it made us surrender possession more and seemed to shut down our momentum whenever we started to pass through the South Africans.
“Some of the inter-play, with Iwobi at the centre of it, was delightful and could have produced goals if we finished better.
“Ultimately, there were more good signs than bad, and it is a performance we can build on.”
The three successive 1-1 draws mean the Super Eagles sit in fifth position in Group C.
If they want to play in the World Cup again, they have to win all the remaining seven games.
“I think things are really bleak,” McDubus added.
“No wins from 3 games is a terrible way to start. We cannot afford any more slip-ups, we have to win all our remaining games.
“It is never a good thing when there is no longer a margin for error. That said, this team is capable of doing it.
“If we cannot win all our remaining games, then we really do not deserve to be at the World Cup. It’s as simple as that. The players have to step up.
“The big positive is that the other teams in the group will take points off one another. So, we just need to focus on doing our part and everything will work out.”