Many Nigerians have written off the Super Eagles’ chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a shaky qualifying campaign. But a rare twist in the rules may have quietly reopened the door.
Eritrea’s withdrawal from Group E left that pool with only five teams, while the rest have six. That imbalance could shape how CAF determines the “best second-placed team” to qualify for the World Cup.
To keep things fair, FIFA and CAF usually adjust the standings when groups have different numbers of teams. In such cases, results earned against the bottom team in six-team groups are ignored when comparing all runners-up.
That rule might work in Nigeria’s favour. The Super Eagles dropped points against the lowest-ranked side in their group, while many other teams won those fixtures. When those matches are discounted, Nigeria’s deficit could shrink or even turn into an advantage.
Still, there’s no shortcut: Nigeria must first finish second in their group. Winning the final two matches is non-negotiable. After that, the “best runner-up” comparison could offer a narrow but genuine path to qualification.
It’s a long shot, but not an impossible one. Eritrea’s withdrawal has cracked open a small window and if the Super Eagles take their chances, they could yet find themselves flying to North America next summer.
