Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi says Nigeria is still holding onto hope of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the team’s current situation as one of “waiting” for a possible lifeline.
The Fulham star admitted the uncertainty has been emotional for players, especially after narrowly missing out on automatic qualification.
Speaking about the disappointment, the 29-year-old was asked whether he would prefer winning the AFCON 2025 title or securing a place at the World Cup.
For Iwobi, the decision is not just personal — it is about his teammates’ dreams.
“I mean, we’re still waiting. Hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but it’s a tough one,” Iwobi said.
“Winning AFCON is a great legacy and a memorable moment in your career. But I’ve already been to the World Cup and a lot of the players haven’t. They want to experience it too. I can’t be selfish and choose AFCON while they miss out. So it’s a tough decision.”
Despite their recent setback, Nigeria’s World Cup hopes are not completely over.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially petitioned FIFA, claiming that the Democratic Republic of Congo fielded up to six ineligible players during their decisive play-off encounter in November.
Nigeria lost the match on penalties at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, but the federation argues the result could be overturned.
At the centre of the complaint is what officials describe as a “dual nationality trap.” While FIFA allows players to switch nationality under certain rules, DR Congo’s constitution reportedly bans dual citizenship.
NFF General Secretary Dr Sanusi Mohammed insists the case is strong.
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality,” Mohammed said.
“FIFA rules say once you have a passport, you’re eligible. But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. We believe the process was fraudulent.”
The Super Eagles recently secured a bronze medal at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, underlining the squad’s quality and strengthening belief that they still belong on football’s biggest stage.
For now, players and fans alike can only wait — and hope — for FIFA’s final decision.
