Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has said Nigeria still harbours hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the uncertainty surrounding the team’s campaign.

Speaking during an interview on SuperSport Football on Thursday, the 29-year-old reflected on the emotional toll of the qualification race and the dilemma facing the team if forced to choose between continental success and a World Cup ticket.

Asked whether Nigeria would trade an Africa Cup of Nations triumph for qualification to the global showpiece, Iwobi said the decision was complicated by the contrasting experiences within the squad.

He said, “I mean, we’re still waiting, hopefully we can go to the World Cup.

“But I feel it’s a tough one. It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have, like in your career, a memorable moment.

“But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one.”

Iwobi, who was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, said the desire of many players to experience football’s biggest stage weighed heavily on the team’s collective mindset.

The comments come as Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign, held in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026, ended with the Super Eagles exiting before the final.

Nigeria’s exit from the World Cup qualifiers followed a 1–1 draw with DR Congo in the playoff final in Rabat, but the Leopards advanced after winning 4–3 on penalties to earn a place in the inter-confederation playoffs set for March 2026.

The NFF lodged a protest with FIFA alleging that several DR Congo players were ineligible under the eligibility rules.

DR Congo’s football authorities rejected the claims, saying all players were cleared to play by FIFA, and urged that the result be respected.

As of late January, the petition was still under review by FIFA, with supporters holding out hope that a ruling could reopen Nigeria’s path to the finals, potentially by disqualifying DR Congo should eligibility breaches be upheld.

Officials at the NFF are understood to be awaiting a response from the world football governing body, even as uncertainty continues to surround Nigeria’s route to the 2026 tournament. (The PUNCH)

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