Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are hanging by a thread, as results from other qualifying groups have dealt a serious blow to the Super Eagles’ campaign.

With just two games left to play, the three-time African champions sit third in Group C with 11 points from eight matches, trailing Benin Republic (14 points) and South Africa (13 points).

The qualification format offers nine automatic tickets to group winners, while the four best second-placed teams will battle in a playoff for one final slot via the FIFA Play-Off Tournament. But with the latest round of results, Nigeria’s route through the second-place path now appears closed.

On Tuesday, Burkina Faso edged Sierra Leone 1–0, Cameroon defeated Mauritius 2–0, and Madagascar triumphed 2–1 over Comoros — all results that strengthened their standings.
Consequently, Gabon (19 points), Madagascar (19 points), and Cameroon (18 points) have all surpassed the maximum 17 points Nigeria can reach, even with back-to-back victories in their final two fixtures.

This means the only remaining lifeline for the Super Eagles is to top Group C outright — a scenario that demands two straight wins against Lesotho on Friday (in South Africa) and Benin Republic on Tuesday (in Uyo), while praying that their group rivals drop points in their respective games.

It’s a nerve-wracking end to the campaign for Nigeria, whose World Cup destiny now depends not only on their own performance but also on results elsewhere.