World Cup Qualifier: Buhari's Ex-Aide Reacts as Omojuwa Shares Actual 'Table That Now Matters'
- A former presidential aide has reacted to Nigeria's 1-1 draw against South Africa on September 9
- An own goal and subsequent equaliser in Bloemfontein saw the Super Eagles fall short once again
- The former aide believes Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are effectively over
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering football and global sports.
Bloemfontein, South Africa - Bashir Ahmad, former special assistant on digital communications to late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday night, asserted that 'Nigeria’s path to the 2026 World Cup is practically closed'.
A first-half own goal by Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong and an equaliser from Calvin Bassey saw Nigeria held to a 1-1 draw in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa in Bloemfontein on September 9.
Source: Twitter
Can Nigeria qualify for 2026 World Cup?
The Super Eagles’ failure to secure maximum points in South Africa has left their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.
With two matches left to play in the group, Nigeria are six points behind South Africa, who currently top Group C with 17 points, and level with Benin Republic on 11 points after the same number of games.
Sharing a screenshot of the second-best-loser group, popular public commentator, Japheth Omojuwa, stated that the particular classification 'now matters for Nigeria'.
Legit.ng's check showed that, at the time, the Super Eagles were in eighth place in the ranking for the second-best loser spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Gabon currently tops the runners-up ranking with 19 points from eight matches and are assured of a top-two finish.
'Nigeria's direct path to 2026 WC closed'
Reacting to the development, Omojuwa said Nigeria must now finish top four in the second-best-loser group to stand any chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup to be played in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
He wrote on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account with an accompanying image:
"This is the table that now matters for Nigeria. The direct qualification route ended today. Nigeria must now finish top 4 here to stand any chance. Looks unlikely. A win today would have made things easier."
Quote tweeting the post, Ahmad posited that the chance of Nigeria qualifying is slim, urging the West African giants to look forward to the future.
He wrote on his verified X page:
"I am not being pessimistic, but when you look at this table, it becomes clear that Nigeria’s path to the 2026 World Cup is practically closed. The gap is wide and with only two matches left, the chances are slim to none. The reality now is that the best step forward now is to accept this outcome and immediately start serious preparations for the 2030 World Cup."
Source: Twitter
Emphasising Amhad's point, the Super Eagles have since dropped out of second place in their group after Benin thumped Lesotho 4-0 to move within three points of Bafana Bafana.
‘It’ll be tough for Super Eagles’ - Expert
Meanwhile, while the Super Eagles are clinging to belief going into a pair of World Cup qualifying games, a sports blogger, Sulaimon Ndagi, said qualification will be difficult.
Ndagi told Legit.ng:
“I think the team is not too bad. All they need is that jigsaw puzzle — a true No. 10, which is clearly missing. Alex Iwobi cannot flourish if they keep putting him on the wings.
“The coaching crew need to scout for No. 10 for the team by all means, even if they are getting one from the junior team. We cannot win any tournament without fixing that middle.”
Chelle reacts to South Africa match
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle shared his thoughts after the 1-1 draw against South Africa dealt a huge blow to Nigeria's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The former Mali coach explained that his players remained motivated for the remaining two games against Lesotho and Benin Republic in October, despite dwindling opportunities to secure their ticket.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
