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The Super Eagles of Nigeria struggled to secure a second draw in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier campaign against 125th ranked Zimbabwe in a game played in Kigali to make them the only African team ranked in top 10 yet to win a game.
For a World Cup that would be hosted for the first time in three countries (USA, Canada, Mexico,) with Africa having nine guaranteed slots, its so unfortunate that the Eagles have failed to soar and show determination that they hunger to be in the World Cup after missing out at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The 1-1 draws recorded in their first and second match shows they have not lived up to their counterpart who are in the top 10 ranked African side and have played two matches so far.
Senegal(2), Tunisia(3) Algeria(4), Egypt(5), Cameroon(7), Mali(8), Ivory Coast(9) whose ranking are among the top 10 have all secured at least one victory with a score line of more than two goals win each, stamping authority in the first stages of the qualifier.
Morocco who is currently number one in Africa is yet to play their first game but would open their campaign against Tanzania on Tuesday, while Burkina Faso who is ranked 10th have secured one draw in their first game with one more game at hand against Ethiopia on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria despite comprising of European-based players have been poor and not lived up to their hype, particularly as some football stakeholders have clamoured for giving ample opportunities to local-based players against their European-based counter-part.
In fact, their performance does not in anyway show any sign of preparedness, particularly as they will be representing the nation in the African Cup of nations in January next year.
In both games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe where they secured a 1-1 draw in Uyo and Kigali, they practically laboured and came from one goal lead to level up showing that they were not ready in any of the games to take the lead.
The journey of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup has started poorly and the technical competence of Portuguese manager, Jose Peseiro is been put to test by the team’s perfomances.
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