Man of the match Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United during the 2023 Nedbank Cup match between Polokwane City and Chippa United held at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on 14 February 2023 ©BackpagePix
Stanley Nwabali has admitted that the Super Eagles have not done enough in their push to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein.
The result leaves Nigeria in third place in Group C with 11 points from three matches, trailing leaders Lesotho and Benin Republic. The Super Eagles now face a must-win situation in their remaining two qualifiers against both teams, while also relying on results elsewhere to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Nwabali, who was a standout performer in goal, lamented the team’s slow start to the campaign.
“We (as a team) should have made more effort to qualify for the World Cup. We left it very late,” he told journalist Osasu Obayiuwana at the Bloemfontein Airport.
The Chippa United goalkeeper stressed that the Super Eagles must now give everything in their final fixtures to stand any chance of securing a ticket to the 2026 finals in USA, Mexico, and Canada.
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