England will launch their 2026 World Cup journey against Croatia, while Scotland have been handed a daunting draw that includes Brazil when the tournament kicks off next summer.
Thomas Tuchel’s England side begin their Group L campaign on 17 June, with their opener set for either Dallas or Toronto. Ghana and Panama complete the group line-up.
For Scotland, the tournament marks their first appearance at a men’s World Cup in 28 years. They start against Haiti on 13 June in either Boston or New York, before taking on Morocco and then five-time champions Brazil in Group C.
In Group B, Wales or Northern Ireland could find themselves alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland—provided either nation successfully navigates two rounds of UEFA play-offs in March. The Republic of Ireland, should they qualify, would be placed with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
The 2026 edition—the first ever featuring 48 teams—will be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July. A separate fixture-allocation draw, scheduled for 17:00 GMT on Saturday, will confirm venues and match timings, though a few details are already settled.
Mexico are set to face South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in the opening match of the expanded competition, which will comprise 104 games across 16 host cities.
In a significant tweak to the format, the four highest-ranked teams in the FIFA standings—Spain, Argentina, France and England—have been granted protected seedings. This ensures they cannot meet one another until the semi-final stage, provided they all top their groups.
England, perfect in qualifying with eight wins from eight, could face the winners of Brazil’s group in the quarter-finals. Winning their group would also set them up against one of the tournament’s eight best-performing third-placed teams in the first knockout round.
Scotland, drawn from pot three, face a formidable task: to progress they must contend with the world’s fifth-ranked team Brazil and 11th-ranked Morocco as they chase a place in the last 16 for the first time since 1998.
World Cup 2026 draw in full:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner of Uefa play-off D
Group B: Canada, Winner of Uefa play-off A*, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Winner of Uefa play-off C*
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner of Uefa play-off B*, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Winner of FIFA play-off 2, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Winner of FIFA play-off 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Uefa play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Northern Ireland
Uefa play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden
Uefa play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania
Uefa play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland or North Macedonia
Fifa play-off 1: DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia
The Super Falcons’ astonishing come-from-behind triumph in the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations final match against hosts Morocco on Saturday will serve as a motivating metaphor for the Super Eagles in their remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, according to NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
Gusau was a super-elated figure inside the Stade Olympique du Rabat on Saturday night as the Falcons came from two goals down in the first half to mount a spirited fightback and eventually subdue hosts Morocco 3-2 in a memorable Women AFCON final match.
“I am very happy because our girls rose from the ‘dead’, as they say, and fought to victory. This was an extraordinary performance. I congratulate them for their resilience, doggedness, patriotism and the blatant display of the well-known Nigerian spirit.
“This victory, and the spirit behind it, will have positive implications for the men in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series. We have four more matches to turn the table against our opponents, and watching the Super Falcons tonight, and how they turned things around, underscores again the wise saying that in sport and in life, it is never over until it is over.”
Gusau commended the awesome fighting spirit of the Falcons, applauding them for their impressive tally of 14 goals for and only three against, and virtuoso performances that earned a clutch of individual awards.
“From the coaching crew to the team captain and the players, we say thank you and well done. With a commanding triumph in the Women AFCON once again, what is left for us to target now is conquering the world at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
The Super Falcons were magnificent in their six matches, particularly in overpowering three teams that defeated them in a worst-ever performance at Africa’s flagship competition three years ago.
In 2022, Zambia pipped the Falcons to the bronze medals, but this time were handed a 5-0 hiding in the quarter finals. Same year, South Africa edged Nigeria 2-1 in a group stage match, but this time got punished by the same scoreline in a semi-final match. And Morocco, who defeated Nigeria on penalties in a dramatic semi-final in 2022, were overhauled in this year’s final.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade was voted Player of the Tournament while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award. Coach Justin Madugu was named Coach of the Tournament.
Nigeria’s chase of a 2026 FIFA World Cup finals ticket resumes in September, when they host the Amavubi of Rwanda before flying to South Africa to play the Bafana Bafana.
Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo struck in the second half to earn Hajime Moriyasu’s side a 2-0 win over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium and confirm their place at next year’s finals.
Midfielder Kamada came off the bench to put Japan in front after 66 minutes and Kubo added the second three minutes from time to keep the Samurai Blue in pole position in Group C of Asia’s preliminaries.
Yesterday’s win guarantees Japan a top-two finish in the standings and sees them qualify for an eighth straight World Cup.
The first two in each of Asia’s three qualifying groups are certain to progress to the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year, with the third- and fourth-placed teams advancing to a further round of playoffs.
After an underwhelming first half, Moriyasu introduced Crystal Palace midfielder Kamada in the 63rd minute and within three minutes he had put his side in front.
The 28-year-old finished off a fine move that started with defender Hiroki Ito finding Ayase Ueda in the centre circle, and his pass released Kubo to set up Kamada to score.
Kubo had been Japan‘s most potent threat and it was fitting that the Real Sociedad playmaker added the second, beating goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah at his near post to put the outcome beyond doubt.
The result means Japan continue to lead Group C by nine points from second-placed Australia, who overcame an early scare to thrash Indonesia 5-1 in Sydney in Patrick Kluivert’s first game in charge of the visitors.
Martin Boyle put Australia ahead from the spot and Jackson Irvine scored twice, with Nishan Velupillay and Lewis Miller also on target to enhance Australia’s qualification hopes.
Meanwhile, South Korea suffered a minor setback in Group B as Hong Myung-bo’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Oman in Goyang.
Hwang Hee-chan had given the home side the lead in the 41st minute but an 80th minute strike by Ali Al-Busaidi levelled for the Omanis against a Korean outfit that saw Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in leave the field with an ankle injury.
The Koreans remain in first place on 15 points, four ahead of Iraq who are at home to Kuwait later on Thursday, while Jordan host Palestine.
In Group A, leaders Iran entertain the United Arab Emirates while second-placed Uzbekistan, who are three points back, host Kyrgyzstan and Asian champions Qatar take on visitors North Korea.
This evening, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the Amavubi of Rwanda in a must-win FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Kigali as such, all eyes would be on the Amahoro Stadium. In fact, leading Nigeria aficionados believe the result from this high-profile match against the Group C pacesetters, Rwanda, would shape the trajectory of new coach Eric Sekou Chelle as the three-time Africa champions battled for their soul in the race towards securing the ticket to next summer’s World Cup to be jointly co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, report MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN and TUNDE LIADI…
The Super Eagles have a date with destiny today when they tackle the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier knowing that it is either win or burst for Nigeria having been boxed into a corner by Rwanda, Benin Republic and South Africa.
Nigeria goes into the tie with the group leaders, Rwanda, stranded in fifth spot in Group C with just three points from four games and four points behind the leading trio making consecutive victories against the Amavubi and Warriors of Zimbabwe essential to boost their chances of reaching the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Incidentally, this is not the first time the Super Eagles would be finding themselves in a precarious situation in their bid to qualify for the World Cup. In fact most of previous quest to qualify for the football’s biggest showpiece have not always been rosy bar the route to 1998 edition in France and the Russia 2018 edition while other World Cup qualification campaigns including their debut appearance at USA 1994, were through last minute heroics.
For instance, the Super Eagles qualified for their first ever World Cup finals at USA 94 but the qualification ticket came after some fantastic results towards the end of the qualifiers before they can upstage the apple cart of West African giants, the Elephants of Cote ‘d’Ivoire.
Both nations ended their qualifying section with five points apiece but Nigeria got the ticket by the whiskers following that all-important draw against Algeria in Blida- the feat which sent them through ahead of the Ivorians on superior goals difference cum head-to-head rule. The tie breaker was the Eagles’ 4-1 whiplash of the Ivorians in Lagos having lost the reverse fixture 2-1 in Abidjan to the Elephants.
For the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, the story was not different as the Super Eagles equally needed a last minute miracle – after a sloppy start in the qualification campaign-to join the train for the first Mundial in the Far East.
In what looks similar to the on-going campaign for 2026 World Cup, the Super Eagles lost two of their opening five games to Liberia and Sierra Leone and were trailing the George Weah-led Lone star who were driven by his passion to play at his first World Cup finals.
By the time the Eagles faced Liberia in Port Harcourt, they needed just one point from their remaining two games. The other being a home tie against Ghana whom they had beaten 3-1 in Accra in the first leg. On the other hand, Nigeria must win their remaining three games against Liberia (home), Sudan (away) and Ghana (home) and pray that the Lone Star stumbles to stand any chance.
Of course, all is now history as the Super Eagles won all the three games against Liberia (2-0), Sudan (4-0) and Ghana (3-0) while Liberia that got 15 points from their opening six games, lost their remaining two games to Nigeria (0-2) and Ghana (1-2). The Super Eagles finished that qualifier with 16 points. They were just a point better than the Lone Star at the end of the qualifying campaign.
As they said ‘lightning never strikes the same place twice’ the Super Eagles would, however, pay dearly for their poor start of their campaign towards the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006. Despite winning six games, drawing three and losing once, the Super Eagles were beaten to the ticket by the Palancas Negras of Angola who secured their berth to the Mundial since they were unbeaten over the two legs against their more superior West Africans.
An hurriedly assembled Super Eagles lost 1-0 in Luanda and got a 1-1 draw in Nigeria in the return leg played under scorching sun in Kano and these results proved fatal as the Southern African nation qualified for their first World Cup by the head- to- head rule after both teams finished on 21 points each.
Despite missing the 2006 World Cup ticket by the whiskers, Nigeria nearly missed the ticket to the first ever FIFA World Cup to be hosted on African soil, the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010.
This time, the Super Eagles had to jostle for the ticket with the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia. Nigeria had played a goalless draw with the Tunisians away but in the key home match in Abuja, the Eagles surrendered a 2-1 lead to settle for a 2-2 draw. That result handed the Carthage Eagles the initiative going into the final round of fixtures.
Consequently, Nigeria must beat Kenya in Nairobi and pray that Mozambique gets the maximum points against Tunisia who needed just a draw to pick the ticket. The Eagles got a 3-2 win in Kenya with Obafemi Martins’ brace quite pivotal to the important win while the Mambas of Mozambique stunned Tunisia 1-0 in Maputo. The Super Eagles thus eventually edged the Carthage Eagles by just a point to finish on top of the group with 12 points while Tunisia ended with 11 points.
Nigeria was fortunate to get drawn with Ethiopia in the third and final round playoffs which the Eagles won 2-1 and 2-0 to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil while the ingenuity of ex-Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr fetched Nigeria the 2018 World Cup ticket despite being grouped in what was regarded as the ‘Group of Death’ along Zambia, Algeria and Cameroon. It turned out to be one of Nigeria’s easiest qualifying campaigns.
Like they often said, ‘ a leopard cannot change its spots’ and despite what looked like a roller coaster campaign in the earlier rounds for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the Super Eagles fumbled in the most-mattered Final Play-off against the Ghana’s Black Stars. After a goalless draw in Kumasi, the Black Stars got a 1-1 draw in Abuja to go through to Qatar 2022 on the infamous away goal rule .
It is against this backdrop that the Super Eagles must now pull their chestnuts from the fire to ensure qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a rather pathetic start that saw them getting just three points from a possible 12 points from their opening four matches.
In what is regarded as Nigeria’s most important match in recent times, the Super Eagles have a difficult assignment in Kigali today since they are yet to win a match on a Rwandan soil despite three previous visits.
Yet Super Eagles’ inspirational captain, William Ekong , said the Eagles are not worried over their past poor record away to Rwanda , adding the ‘new look’ Super Eagles under Franco-Malian Eric Sekou Chelle would ride their luck against the battle-hardened Amavubi.
“Actually, we read about that in some places but we are not bothered,” the 31-year-old Ekong said. “I was part of the last game in Kigali which ended scoreless, but we know that we cannot afford a draw this time.”
“ Our objective is to pick the three points and bring some life back into our campaign,” the former PAOK defender further said in an official Nigeria Football Federation release. “We are certainly not concerned about history books and what has happened before now. Qualification for the FIFA World Cup is our priority.”
Speaking in the same vein, erstwhile Super Eagles manager , Gernot Rohr , who led Nigeria to her last Mundial at Russia 2018, has warned about the dangers the Amavubi can pose to the Super Eagles’ aspirations.
“ Of course, I have been following the Super Eagles and they have a new coach now ; another one again,” the German who is on the opposite divide with The Cheetahs of Benin in this Group C World Cup campaign , told Nation Sports during . “Eric Chelle, I wish him all the best.
“He had a very good team in Mali also but it won’t be easy to play Rwanda because they have a lot of quick players and they have good public (spectators) too and so they are not easy to beat at home, ” he added.
Today’s tie offers different scenarios for the two combatants now under new coaches; while Nigeria signed up Franco-Malian Eric Sekou Chelle in January, Rwanda only last month sealed a deal with Algerian tactician Adel Amrouche.
But Ifeanyi Udeze, a former Super Eagles star, said this is a must-win encounter for fifth-placed Nigeria, adding the Super Eagles must restore their hope of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with a comfortable win in Kigali today.
“I have my fears because we always struggled to beat Rwanda in their home,” the former PAOK defender recalled the ill-fated qualifier towards Germany 2006 World Cup. “I have been there before.
“I think we played 1-1. If I remember correctly, I provided the cross that Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Obafemi Martins) scored. So, it is not always easy when we play against Rwanda.”
But he former Nigeria international who was on the squad to the Korea/ Japan 2022 World Cup, has advised the current squad to gird their loins for what could be fierce test today at the Amahoro Stadium.
” I think Nigeria has a chance to win the game. We just need our players to give more than 100 percent,” he noted. “We see them play for their clubs and give their all. I believe if our players give more than 100 percent, then Nigeria has a strong chance to win.”
African Footballer of the Year in 1994, Emmanuel Amuneke, has equally warned that the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will be challenging for Nigeria as the team prepares for this month’s crucial matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
“The reality is that qualifying isn’t easy, and we have to also consider other teams,” Amuneke, one of the Super Eagles ‘glamour boys’ at the USA 1994 World Cup, told NationSports. “To be honest, we are not in an easy position, even if we win, the teams above us too can win their games. I hope we can, as we like to say here in Nigeria, ‘nothing is impossible’ but we also have to face the facts.
“The team must focus and work hard. The task is difficult, but with determination and teamwork, anything is possible,” the former Barcelona winger added.
For former Nigeria’s midfield Trojan, Garba Lawal, the Super Eagles can easily pick the three points against Rwanda if they approach the World Cup qualifier with seriousness and the zeal to turn their poor World Cup Qualifiers campaign around.
Lawal who was in the Super Eagles’ squad to the FIFA Worlds Cup France 1998 and Korea/Japan World Cup 2002 , admitted that Nigeria’s current difficult situation in Group C is still redeemable.
“We are in a difficult situation that was caused by ourselves but nothing is impossible in football,” Lawal disclosed. “We must first go to Kigali and win that game before we can talk about the way forward. I believe in the boys and the new technical crew headed by Eric Chelle. The boys must put everything aside and bring their minds to play for the country.
“If we can get a win in Kigali and follow it up with another one against Zimbabwe in Uyo, I can assure that we can build on those results in subsequent games.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named Moroccan referee Jayed Jalal to officiate Rwanda’s World Cup 2026 qualifier against Nigeria at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday, March 21
Jalal will travel to Kigali with countrymen Mostapha Akarkad and Hamza Nassiri who will serve as first and second assistant referees respectively.
Jalal, 37, is one of the top referees from North Africa and has been very prominent in both CAF club and international football matches.
He is well known for ensuring sanity in the game. The last two continental games he has handled saw him flashing a whopping 13 yellow cards.
The astute referee was in charge of Angola’s 2-1 victory against Sudan in an AFCON 2025 qualifier on September 9, 2024 where he issued 8 yellow cards. He also officiated Namibia’s 0-0 draw with Cameroon on November 13, 2024 where he gave out 5 yellow cards.
His last encounter involving any of the two teams was on March 22, 2024 when he handled an international friendly match between Nigeria and Ghana in Morocco. The Super Eagles won the encounter 2-1.
While the Super Eagles occupy fifth position in Group C with three points from four games, Rwanda sit top of Group B with seven points.
The 2026 World Cup final will feature its first ever halftime show, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said.
The 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament will feature 104 matches instead of the previous 64 games, including an additional knockout round.
The final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of NFL teams New York Giants and New York Jets.
“I can confirm the first ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York, New Jersey, in association with Global Citizen,” Infantino said on Instagram.
FIFA will be working with international education and advocacy organisation Global Citizen as well as British band Coldplay for the halftime show.
Two-time FIFA World Cup past master with Nigeria, Mutiu Adepoju, has urged coach Eric Sekou Chelle to ensure that the Super Eagles play with gusto in their drive to secure a ticket to the 2026 Mundial to be jointly hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
The Franco-Malian was employed in January and tasked to salvage the Super Eagles’ flagging World Cup dream after they found themselves in an unfamiliar fifth position in their Group C qualifying section with just three points from their opening four matches; where Rwanda, South Africa and Benin leads with seven points each with Zimbabwe in fourth position and Lesotho sixth.
Nigeria take on Rwanda on March 21 in Kigali, before they welcome Zimbabwe to Uyo four days later as they hope to take their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.
Ahead of these eagerly awaited encounters, Adepoju who was in the storied Nigeria’ squad that earned a maiden FIFA World Cup appearance at USA ’94 as well as being one of the scorers at France 1998, said the current squad has been limited in style and approach in recent times.
He added that Chelle must ensure that the Super Eagles henceforth play not only to win but with panache.
“Eric Chelle has a lot to do in terms of managing the players because they are all big players in their own rights but he has to put all of these resources together,” Adepoju, fondly called ‘The Headmaster’ for his knack for scoring headers including that glancing opener in the 3-2 defeat of Spain at the France 1998 World Cup in his heyday, stated. “He has to manage them in such a way that when they are on the field , they would be able to combine together and put all of their resources together and make the team very solid.
“ I think he has a great work to do in that aspect,” he added in a snap interview with a Lagos-based sports radio station.
In a related development, former Nigeria International goalkeeper, Greg Etafia, has applauded Chelle for scouring Europe to confer with some members of the Super Eagles ahead of the forth coming World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.
“ For the coach to go visiting the players, I think it’s a good thing, “ the former Moroka Swallows ‘ goal tender admitted.
“ I think trying to familiar himself with the players especially the established ones since he cannot reach out to everyone but the ones closer to each other in term of location, is a good thing.
“ But he has to try as much as possible to stamp his authority on the team generally; in terms of style of play and winning games which is the most important thing.
“ The first thing is for him to bring out the desire of the players to play for the national team , which is very important, “ he concluded.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) Mallam Shehu Dikko yesterday welcomed an amalgamation of the Football Supporters Clubs to his office as he stressed the need for the multi-faceted associations to work under a single umbrella.
“If you single out broom sticks, you could so easily break them one after the other. But when you put them together as a bunch, you cannot break the broom, ” he said.
The group had come to brief the Chairman on ongoing plans to harmonize the various Supporters Clubs.
Speaking through member of the delegation, Vincent Okumagba, they pointed out that they had honoured a meeting summoned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to the effect of having a unified group and came to brief the Chairman on their decision to sheathe their swords for the good of Nigerian football in particular and sports in general.
The NSC Chairman urged the groups to intensify efforts to be unified for the ultimate good of Nigerian football.
He said: “You must come together and work as a group so that we can achieve the desired goal. When we are all working together towards the same goal, success is guaranteed. When you see the army and police marching, they march at the same time, but once one person falters, everything comes to zero.
“I am happy that this meeting has been held and I can see all the key actors here. It shows commitment. We want everyone to be in one Supporters Club, but we won’t be the ones to force you to be in one group. You have to meet and agree to be one. You have to unite in the interest of the sport you all claim to love.”
Dikko reminded the delegation of the immediate task of ensuring that the Super Eagles secure the World Cup ticket.
“Our task now is to make sure that we get that World Cup ticket,” he said. “We have to be focused and put all energy to get that done.”
“What is home advantage when the supporters are not behind you as a group? We all need to come together and sing in one voice to give our players the home advantage that they need”, he added.
He pledged the Commission’s support to the Supporters Club in their quest to rally support for the national team.
“We in the Commission, myself, my DG, the staff are fully supporting and enforcing this move to have a unified group. We are here to render any support you need from us, ” he concluded.
In attendance were Vincent Okumagba (President Super Eagles Supporters Club), Hon. Sunday Gulong (President Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club), Amb. Abimbola Ariyo (National Secretary Nigeria Eagles Supporters Club), Amb. Kemi Ogunfuwa (President Football Fans Club of Nigeria), Umar Shehu (Northern Coordinator Super Eagles Supporters Club), Dele Onifade (Treasurer Football Fans Supporters Club), Yusuf Jabiu (Chairman Authentic Supporters Club, FCT chapter), Prince Abayomi (President Authentic Supporters Club) and Abdulkadir Salisu (Secretary-General Super Eagles Supporters Club).
Ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, former Nigeria International Mobi Oparaku said the Super Eagles risk qualification if they fail to play as a team against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria’s chances of winning the automatic Group C ticket hangs in the balance after taking just three points in their opening four matches and Oparaku believes results of the next two matches in March could decide the fate of the Super Eagles.
Oparaku, a soccer gold medal winner with the national U-23 team at Atlanta 1996 Olympics, said the Super Eagles can get back their mojo in the race for a ticket to next year’s Mundial if they play with a unity of purpose.
“ When they come out (next month) they should not come out as individuals playing for Nigeria but they should come out as a team that is representing Nigeria,” the 48-year-old who featured at the France 1998 with the Super Eagles, said in an interview aired on Brila Fm.“ There is a different between a player that comes to represent the Super Eagles and a team of players that come out to represent Nigeria.
“ When they come out as a team that represents the country, we can then talk about what they have but not as individuals.
“ But when we speak about individuals, it means we don’t have a team but I hope this new coach (Eric Sekou Chelle) would be able to pull the team together and play like a gang for the world Cup qualifiers.”
Meanwhile, coach Chelle along with his first assistant Hedi Taboubi, is reportedly in England to meet with Premier League stars like Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi ahead of next month’s must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
They will talk with the players on how the Super Eagles will approach these two qualifiers and what is expected of them both on and off the pitch.
“Eric is working quietly and with a clear direction,” a reliable source told SCORENigeria
Nigeria will be away to Rwanda on March 21 and host Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in the march double header. Rwanda are top of Group C with seven points ahead of South Africa and Benin, who also have same number of points but inferior goals difference. Lesotho are fourth on five points, while the Super Eagles are fifth with three points. Zimbabwe are bottom of the standings on two points after four rounds of matches.
