Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has urged Nigerian fans to stay calm, expressing confidence that the team can still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following their impressive victory over Rwanda in Kigali last Friday, the Eagles were in high spirits and expected to secure a win against Zimbabwe on home soil at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
However, the Super Eagles were stunned by a 90th-minute equaliser through Tawanda Chirewa, forcing them to settle for a draw.
The result has further complicated Nigeria’s chances of finishing atop Group C and securing automatic qualification, especially after South Africa’s 2-0 away victory over Gernot Rohr’s Benin.
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Nigeria now sit fourth in the group standings, six points behind leaders South Africa, with four games remaining in the qualifiers. They also trail Rwanda and Benin in second and third respectively by one point . Additionally, their prospects of finishing among the teams eligible for a potential second-round playoff have been further diminished by the draw.
Despite the setback, Aina remains optimistic. “We will make this World Cup, chill,” the Nottingham Forest defender wrote on Snapchat.
For Nigeria to have a realistic shot at qualification—either by topping the group or securing a playoff spot—they must win all four remaining matches while hoping for favorable results from other teams, particularly South Africa, dropping points.
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