Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has expressed optimism that Nigeria can still find a way to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the uncertainty surrounding the team’s campaign.

Speaking in an interview with SuperSport Football, the 29-year-old opened up about the emotional strain of the qualification journey and the tough choices players face when balancing the pursuit of Africa Cup of Nations success with the dream of playing on football’s biggest stage.

Iwobi acknowledged that while lifting the AFCON trophy is a major honour, many players are deeply motivated by the opportunity to feature at a World Cup.

Having represented Nigeria at the 2018 tournament in Russia, he noted that the squad is made up of players with different experiences and priorities — some still chasing their first World Cup appearance, others placing greater value on continental glory.

Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco ended before the final, compounding frustrations after their World Cup qualification hopes were dented by a dramatic playoff loss to DR Congo. The Super Eagles drew 1–1 in the final playoff in Rabat before losing 4–3 on penalties, a result that sent DR Congo through to the inter-confederation playoffs scheduled for March 2026.

In the aftermath, the Nigeria Football Federation submitted a petition to FIFA, alleging that some DR Congo players were ineligible. DR Congo’s football authorities have firmly denied the claims, insisting all players were properly cleared.

With FIFA still reviewing the case, hope remains alive among Nigerian fans and officials that a favourable ruling could yet reopen the Super Eagles’ route to the 2026 World Cup.