The Digest:
Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup appear all but over after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the Super Eagles will participate in a Four-Nation Invitational Tournament in Jordan during next month's FIFA window, the same period set aside for the final World Cup playoffs. The tournament, scheduled for March 27-31 in Amman, will see Nigeria face Iran and hosts Jordan, with Costa Rica also participating. NFF Communications Director Ademola Olajire confirmed the fixtures, making no mention of possible playoff participation. National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko had earlier stated: "We have put the World Cup behind us already... World Cup is a closed chapter." Nigeria filed a petition against DR Congo over alleged ineligible players after losing on penalties in the African playoffs, but FIFA has yet to rule. The Super Eagles have now missed back-to-back World Cups (2022, 2026).
Key Points:
- The announcement signals Nigeria has abandoned hope of FIFA ruling in its favour.
- Missing consecutive World Cups represents a significant decline for African football giants.
- Fans face disappointment, while NFF focuses on rebuilding for AFCON.
- This signals the end of the legal battle, regardless of the pending FIFA decision.
- The timing, with the tournament scheduled during the playoff window, confirms the shift.
NFF's scheduling of March friendlies during World Cup playoff window confirms Nigeria has moved on, accepting back-to-back World Cup misses.
Sources: Premium Times, NFF
