Super Eagles’ November Friendlies May Be Cancelled After World Cup Playoff Qualification

Super Eagles’ November Friendlies May Be Cancelled After World Cup Playoff Qualification

Sampson Adedeji

Following Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs, the scheduled international friendly matches against Venezuela and Colombia in November could be called off, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Super Eagles secured their playoff berth after a dominant 4–0 victory over Benin, finishing second in their qualifying group.

The new playoff draw sees Nigeria set to battle Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo for a place in the World Cup to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

With the playoffs expected to take place around the same period, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may now shelve the friendly encounters to allow the team adequate time for preparation and avoid fixture congestion.

Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to focus on building his squad and strategy for the crucial playoff fixtures, which will determine whether the Super Eagles return to the World Cup after missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.