Nigerian football legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances of making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ahead of their high-stakes playoff against Gabon.
The match will take place on Thursday, November 13, at the Hide Moulay Hassan Stadium in Morocco.
The winner will face either DR Congo or Cameroon in the next round, with a place in the inter-continental playoff and a shot at the World Cup on the line.
Speaking on The Exchange with Femi Soneye, Okocha said, “Once there is a glimmer of hope, of course I will believe, and that is the beauty of football. I still trust this team; I still believe it is possible [Nigeria qualify for the World Cup]. We put ourselves in this situation, and we are the only ones who can bring ourselves out of it. From their last outing, you could see the desire to correct their mistakes. They’ve given us hope.”
The Super Eagles will be looking to build on their recent performances as they prepare for a tense showdown with Gabon.
Leading the attack will be Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, who made it clear that his focus has already shifted from club football to international duty.
After Galatasaray’s 1-0 defeat to Kocaelispor on Sunday, Osimhen told reporters, “I have to travel. The game has happened, it has happened. I have moved on from that. Now I focus on my national team.”
Kick-off for Nigeria versus Gabon is scheduled for 5 p.m., Nigerian time, on Thursday, November 13.
