FIFA council member and former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has expressed optimism that the Super Eagles will secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite their challenging start in Group C of the qualifiers.

The Super Eagles have yet to win a match in the group, recording three draws and one loss. They currently sit fifth with just three points, trailing group leaders Rwanda, Benin Republic, and South Africa by four points.

Speaking on the team’s prospects, Pinnick acknowledged the difficulty of their situation but affirmed his confidence in their ability to bounce back. I speak to the president of the NFF every other day, and I know he is very committed to ensuring Nigeria qualifies for the World Cup, Pinnick said during an interview with Channels Television. It’s a tough call, but we’ll push ourselves to the limit.

He also highlighted the determination of the players and officials to turn their fortunes around. Trust me, the team is not happy with where they are now. They want to succeed, move beyond this phase, and bring joy to Nigerians, Pinnick added.

The Super Eagles’ next crucial qualifier will be an away match against Rwanda in March. The team will need a strong performance to stay in contention for a spot in the expanded 48-team World Cup.