Ndidi: Eagles Determined to Win World Cup 2026 Ticket

Femi Solaja  with agency report

With the bitter memories of missing out in the last World Cup tournament yet to fade away, Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has expressed strong determination to see Nigeria secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. 

Against all odds, the star-loaded Super Eagles failed to qualify for the last tournament hosted by Qatar. They log st on aggregate to their eternal rivals, the Black Stars of Ghana, in the final playoff at home in Abuja.

But under new handler, Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles are preparing to face tough competition in the World Cup qualifiers, having been seeded in the same group with South Africa, Benin Republic, Rwanda, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. 

But after the 6-0 drubbing of Sao Tome and Principe in the dead rubber AFCON qualifier in Uyo last Sunday, Ndidi emphasized the importance of the victory as a morale booster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. 

He acknowledged the disappointment of missing the last World Cup and expressed a strong commitment to ensuring Nigeria’s success this time around in the tournament to be jointly hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.

“It was painful not to play at the last World Cup in Qatar. The fans were really disappointed in us, and we can’t afford to fail them again,” Ndidi said. “We just have to keep working hard as a team, and hopefully, things will be in our favour.,” Ndidi told reporters shortly after the 6-0 defeat of São Tomé in Uyo.

Nigeria’s journey to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup begins with their first qualifier against the Crocodiles of Lesotho on November 13 and few days later, the team will be on the road against Zimbabwe.