Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has fired a timely warning to Group C rivals South Africa and Rwanda, insisting Nigeria remains firmly in the hunt for a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite a shaky start to the qualifiers — with just one win in six games — the Chippa United shot-stopper believes all hope is far from lost. Nigeria currently sit fourth in Group C with seven points, trailing table-toppers South Africa (13 points), and both Rwanda and Benin (8 points each).

But with 12 points still up for grabs across the remaining four matches, Nwabali is confident the Super Eagles can still soar to North America for the tournament jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

“It’s football — being Nigeria doesn’t automatically mean we’ll beat everyone,” Nwabali told Sportsblog247.com. “We still have a good chance to qualify despite our current position. We’re focused on the next game, and we’ll keep pushing to turn things around.”

Nigeria’s road to redemption begins in September with a must-win clash against Rwanda on home soil, followed by a daunting away trip to South Africa. October fixtures will see the Super Eagles face Lesotho away and wrap up with a potential decider against Benin at home.

After the heartbreak of missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the three-time African champions are determined to avoid another disappointment. With six previous World Cup appearances under their belt — including round of 16 finishes in 1994, 1998, and 2014 — Nigeria are fighting to keep their place among football’s global elite.