Fulham midfielder and Super Eagles standout Alex Iwobi has confirmed that the Nigerian national team remains in a state of suspense regarding their potential participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) currently pursues a formal legal challenge against the Democratic Republic of Congo, alleging that the Leopards fielded ineligible players during their decisive qualification encounter. This administrative appeal offers a glimmer of hope for a tournament lifeline, as the NFF maintains that the Congolese side violated specific nationality regulations during their successful playoff run.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who represented Nigeria on the global stage during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, recently addressed the team’s current predicament during a featured segment on SuperSport. When presented with a choice between securing a future World Cup berth or winning the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, Iwobi highlighted the complex emotional dynamics within the locker room. He noted that while a continental trophy secures a lasting legacy, many of his younger teammates have yet to experience the unique prestige of a World Cup tournament.
The outcome of the NFF’s petition to FIFA could fundamentally alter the trajectory of Nigerian football over the next year. Supporters and players alike now await a definitive ruling from the world football governing body to determine if the Super Eagles will receive a retroactive qualification spot. For now, the squad maintains a professional focus on upcoming domestic and continental commitments while keeping a watchful eye on the legal proceedings in Zurich.
During his candid conversation with SuperSport, Alex Iwobi reflected on the difficult choice between two major career milestones:
“I mean we’re still waiting, well 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. I don’t know. I don’t know.”
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