Dikko Stays Optimistic About Super Eagles’ World Cup Qualification

Dikko Stays Optimistic About Super Eagles’ World Cup Qualification

Sampson Adedeji

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, is still optimistic that the Super Eagles can secure their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico — if FIFA docks South Africa points, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

While Nigeria’s situation in the group is precarious, Dikko believes there’s still a path forward if South Africa lose points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March.

Bafana’s Teboho Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards in the series and should have been suspended for the Lesotho match.

“With the way things are, it’s still in our hands, depending on the outcome of the disciplinary decision that’s expected soon,” Dikko said in an interview with UK-based Nigerian journalist Austin Okon-Akpan.

“If the decision goes as everyone expects and we ourselves have faced a similar fate before it means we can still control our own future. If we win our remaining four games, we can make it.

“The rules are the rules; it’s not about Africa, it’s FIFA. There are no two ways about it. Otherwise, anyone could field a player and then say it was a simple error.”