As Nigeria squares up against the Amavubi of Rwanda in today’s make or mar Match Day 7 of the group C for 2026 FIFA World Cup, the chairman of the National Sports Commission Commission (NSC) Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, have assured that everything is being put in place to ensure that the Super Eagles qualify for next year’s World Cup which will be co-hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
Sporting Tribune recalls that the three-time African champions missed out on the 2022 World Cup hosted in Qatar as the Black Stars of Ghana bundled the Eagles out of the race for the mundial.
Speaking in separate interviews with Sporting Tribune in Abuja, Dikko and Adeniyi said government and all stakeholders in the football family are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Nigeria’s flag is hoisted at the mundial and coincidentally, Nigeria made her debut at the World Cup in the United States some 31 years ago.
“We’re doing everything possible alongside the NFF to put our heads together, working day and night to ensure that Nigeria gets the results that we all wanted. The situation we are now is for us to keep winning our game and see where that takes us,” Dikko said.
According to the Customs boss, who is also a member of the Presidential Task Force on the 2026 World Cup Qualification Committee, it will be painful if Nigeria misses out again from the World Cup, saying the nation is following the qualification with keen interest.
“I think the momentum is very high for the government. We’ve been winning everything we’ve put our hands on back-to-back. You remember the Falcons won, D’Tigress won. D’Tigers also put up a good show. The momentum is right in place for the government. And I want to believe that the government will seize the momentum and provide all that is necessary.
“I’m not in the NFF, but I have friends within the Federation. The coach is my friend and we talk a lot. I know some of the players and I also speak with all of them. So, all stakeholders, both on and off the pitch, are well aware of how high the stakes are. We’re really walking a tight rope and it’s our hope that we’ll get the result against Rwanda in Uyo and go for the fight-to-finish in Bloemfontein a few days later.
“We’re also following the politics that is involved. We’re aware of those situations, and we’re hoping that things will work in our favour. The World Cup is a big arena for all football-loving nations. It’ll be so painful for Nigeria to miss out,” Adeniyi stated.
The Bafana Bafana of South Africa occupies the top position in group C with 13 points, while the Super Eagles are in distant fourth with 7 points behind Benin Republic and Rwanda, who are both on 8 points.
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