African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Africolo]

Benin were not just lucky in their last match, the super eagles which their performance hasn’t been so good humiliated them in the match, super eagles scored 4 goals in the match, I never expected so much goals in the match, if they had won the super eagle, then they will have qualified for the World Cup.

Super eagles has the best squad, so it’s surprising that super eagles couldn’t win most of their matches easily, as we can see now, the super eagles will be playing the playoffs, it’s annoying and shameful to me.

Shame no doubt and we shouldn't have been in this condition but it's still better than winning the way we did in the last game and still get eliminated. At least with the playoff we could find away through the backdoor to the World.l Cup.

We should have done better but we can't blame only the players, the NFF are also our major problem.

[Rruchi man]

With the change of formation and starting lineups, i think we are now ready to compete in the highest level, ...

I think you are just exaggerating, saying we are now ready to compete on the highest level. We are still very much below standard if you ask me; I don't think the Super Eagles can face the U21 team of Argentina, talk less of their senior team. I don't mean to be a pessimist, but don't get your hopes high; we still may not make it to the World Cup.

What do you guys think of players like Nketiah and Hudson-Odoi now offering themselves to play for Ghana in the World Cup now that they have been able to successfully qualify for it?

If I am the head coach of Ghana, since Hudson-Odoi and Nketiah knew about the World Cup qualifiers and they were fit to play for Ghana and help Ghana qualify for the World Cup, but they didn't show any interest to play for Ghana in that period, I will never give them a chance to represent Ghana in the World Cup because it will be a big disrespect for those players that came and helped Ghana qualify for the World Cup.

I agree with you 100% because these players are simply wanting to join the Ghanaian National team because they could not secure a place in the English team because of the many players they have.

Even if I let these players join the team, I simply will keep them on the bench and prioritize the players who made it possible for the team to make qualification.

They have shown more dedication and deserve the respect.

[Mayor of ogba]

Thank God they finally made it back home safe and sound and a disaster was averted. Indeed flying with a cracked windscreen is very dangerous and poses a wide range of dangers and could cause a crash, who knows what the story would have been today but thank God nothing happened.

This was an incident a day before the game against Benin it's nothing new and there was absolutely no reason to quote something buried 5 pages ago. It's spam

If I am the head coach of Ghana, since Hudson-Odoi and Nketiah knew about the World Cup qualifiers and they were fit to play for Ghana and help Ghana qualify for the World Cup, but they didn't show any interest to play for Ghana in that period, I will never give them a chance to represent Ghana in the World Cup because it will be a big disrespect for those players that came and helped Ghana qualify for the World Cup.

There are still AFCON coming up, too many games to play before World cup so yeah they'd be useful and important additions to the team.

Even though there are still African Cup of Nations coming up, it isn't a guarantee I will give them a chance to represent Ghana in the tournament. The only way I will allow them to represent Ghana in the African Cup of Nations is if they take part in the qualification matches, but if they didn't, I won't pick them, because nobody will be given special treatment in my team.

[SatoPrincess]

This is how the format will be for Nigeria to qualify, after the play off among the four best losers to be played at Morocco, the winner goes further to play six teams Intercontinental playoff which two groups will be shared and the both winners from each group joins to qualify for the World Cup, it is two teams not four teams after six team playoffs that goes on to join others in the World Cup.

Any team that successfully goes through this process and qualifies will be very strong at the World Cup. My position is based on the fact that they will play close to five competitive matches before the World Cup. So the players will have understood each other because they are playing more games. The clubs these players play for will not be happy since it extends the absence of the players and also exposes them to injuries.   

Definitely the extra games will have an impact on the parent clubs whose players will be tied to the playoffs. However like you said and I agree that the players will have more time together as a team to blend together and boost their team work let’s hope this is a blessing in disguise.

[Ronsbit]

The latest news coming in from FIFA is that Nigeria ranked up back to 4th position in Africa and 41 in the world football rankings after a rough and tough time during the qualifiers match. The last match in which they won Benin Republic Gav them a boost by increasing their points in the world rankings criteria used to rank national teams and their performance.  If Nigeria really had performed well from the beginning of this qualifiers series, they would have climbed up the list to top Africa as the best team but it is unfortunate that Nigeria dropped in rank both in world ranking and continental ranking as well.

Source

[SatoPrincess]

I was sure that Nigeria would win against Benin. Although Benin was at the top of the table, this squad is not very strong. Benin has  not performed well against nigeria in  the previous head-to-head matches.

But Nigeria will secure a 4 - 0 victory, this was an unimaginable result. We have not seen Nigeria win by such a big margin in the previous matches. But this  match was a do or die match for Nigeria. So the Nigerian players tried their best  to win by a big margin. And they succeeded.

We saw the great performance of nigeria's star player osimhen on this field. Osimhen was able to score a hat-trick. Also Samuel Chukweze and Moses Simon made two assists each.

Honestly I wasn’t sure about a thing because countless times I have been sure and they broke my heart so I keep my mind open to every possibility now. however winning that game by four goals to nil was shocking and unimaginable. I really can’t remember the last time the Super Eagles won by that kind of margin but they did it against Benin. I hope we can do it again in the playoffs.

[Uhwuchukwu53]

I was sure that Nigeria would win against Benin. Although Benin was at the top of the table, this squad is not very strong. Benin has  not performed well against nigeria in  the previous head-to-head matches.

But Nigeria will secure a 4 - 0 victory, this was an unimaginable result. We have not seen Nigeria win by such a big margin in the previous matches. But this  match was a do or die match for Nigeria. So the Nigerian players tried their best  to win by a big margin. And they succeeded.

We saw the great performance of nigeria's star player osimhen on this field. Osimhen was able to score a hat-trick. Also Samuel Chukweze and Moses Simon made two assists each.

Honestly I wasn’t sure about a thing because countless times I have been sure and they broke my heart so I keep my mind open to every possibility now. however winning that game by four goals to nil was shocking and unimaginable. I really can’t remember the last time the Super Eagles won by that kind of margin but they did it against Benin. I hope we can do it again in the playoffs.

This super eagle last match with Benin revived many lost hope even when the hope is not completely sure, but I think what we have now in the playoff to come if the principle use in the last game is deeply apply with more strategic wining mindset, the game will be achieved to be a success.

Super eagle has given me, many time heart break, such that I don't really depends on their game or even interested to watch it.

I see this playoff to be a regirious way of succeeding in a qualifiers game of this nature, that need full force from inception. Their slumber leads them to this struggles, they must not slack in their efforts to to as best as their last game, else they will end up not achieving this pursuit.

[Wakate]

Shame no doubt and we shouldn't have been in this condition but it's still better than winning the way we did in the last game and still get eliminated. At least with the playoff we could find away through the backdoor to the World.l Cup.

We should have done better but we can't blame only the players, the NFF are also our major problem.

The Nigerian team should not be over excited if we get into the real deal where strong football countries that are known to be good at playing and winning get to play with us. That would be a serious question to ask if the super eagle can survive a single win to reach semi final. This is not going to be an easy journey because each countries has their own expectations they are planning to accomplish soon. Let's watch out for the best!

[Promocodeudo]

The Nigerian team should not be over excited if we get into the real deal where strong football countries that are known to be good at playing and winning get to play with us. That would be a serious question to ask if the super eagle can survive a single win to reach semi final. This is not going to be an easy journey because each countries has their own expectations they are planning to accomplish soon. Let's watch out for the best!

What's there to get excited about, at this point, they have not qualified so is there anything to be happy about although they keep crosing bridges but obstacle keep occuring, the have Gabon and Cameroon to encounter with so they have been able to deal with Bein kudos to the bit they they have to prepare very well to tackle these other teams, even though they see Gabon to be a pushover which I know they are not, what about Cameroon, Cameroon has never been easy for Nigeria super eagles to win even those days when we have a strong super eagles.
Which of the semi finals are we taking about when they have not qualified yet, they should qualify first before any other thing unless am it getting you right.

[Wakate]

~Snippped~

What's there to get excited about, at this point, they have not qualified so is there anything to be happy about although they keep crosing bridges but obstacle keep occuring, the have Gabon and Cameroon to encounter with so they have been able to deal with Bein kudos to the bit they they have to prepare very well to tackle these other teams, even though they see Gabon to be a pushover which I know they are not, what about Cameroon, Cameroon has never been easy for Nigeria super eagles to win even those days when we have a strong super eagles.

Nothing to be excited about but to work on beating these counties to enable the super eagle to hit the qualification button. This is a journey that don't even have a result yet but all I was trying to express is that the Nigerian team should not be happy that they were able to beat Benin republic because their is more obstacles to face which should not even bring any jubilation. This is not going to be an easy journey for the Nigerian team.

[Doan9269]

Celebration for what, they'd better sit tight and work more harder because if they are beating Benin and rejoicing over victory, this shows they don't know what they are doing, we need to know how we can face the big obstacles ahead and not the small ones and rejoicing over them, personally i don't even see this as a victory, because we don't have the goals the most important times we needed them, what is the essence of laughing after the head has been cut off.

[Rruchi man]

The latest news coming in from FIFA is that Nigeria ranked up back to 4th position in Africa and 41 in the world football rankings after a rough and tough time during the qualifiers match. The last match in which they won Benin Republic Gav them a boost by increasing their points in the world rankings criteria used to rank national teams and their performance.  If Nigeria really had performed well from the beginning of this qualifiers series, they would have climbed up the list to top Africa as the best team but it is unfortunate that Nigeria dropped in rank both in world ranking and continental ranking as well.

Ranking means nothing to me and many other Nigerians if the ranking cannot be reflected in how they perform in real life. Rankings do not win games or competitions; they can even give the players a false sense of achievement that they are doing well when in fact they are performing poorly.

The Super Eagles should not celebrate or let this new ranking get into their heads; they need to pull together and get to the World Cup.

[Jaycoinz]

Celebration for what, they'd better sit tight and work more harder because if they are beating Benin and rejoicing over victory, this shows they don't know what they are doing, we need to know how we can face the big obstacles ahead and not the small ones and rejoicing over them, personally i don't even see this as a victory, because we don't have the goals the most important times we needed them, what is the essence of laughing after the head has been cut off.

It's going to boil down to play offs and if Nigeria are willing to replicate same performance as they did then for sure qualification will be certain for them although I understand that even that performance was because they were really under pressure to win and sometimes we as humans tend to actually perform well and reach our best under pressure. I don't know why but I feel Nigeria are going to do their very best to qualify.

[Coyster]

Celebration for what

Maybe some of the celebrations were excessive, but we are only celebrating because we survived to fight another day. Of course we are not certain we would qualify through this play-off, but there is hope of it. It is very true that we shouldn't be in this position in the first place, based on the quality and resources at our disposal, but it is what it is. We have to accept reality and support the boys, until we either qualify for the world cup, or when it is certain that we wouldn't.

[Mate2237]

Hiding under past glory has been one of the greatest problems that, has hindered the progress of the Nigerian super eagles because I don't know understand how a footballing country will be celebrating winning over Lesotho and Benin Republic. This is totally rubbish and FIFA as useful has used this to deceive Nigeria super eagles by increasing their ranking on the FIFA rankings. If ranking were actually working then Nigeria will not be playing playoffs that to me as a Nigerian we didn't deserve because Burkina deserved it more than us base on efforts that was put in the qualifying rounds.



The super eagles should not fall into this temptation of FIFA ranking if Nigeria is to make it to the world cup then they have to win their next three playoffs matches that will be coming up. Because I for once has lost faith on the Nigerian super eagles because the last two games against Lesotho and Benin should not be a yastic for Nigerian to believe in the super eagles why am saying this is because, the eagles have disappointed when it mattered the most.

[Richbased]

The latest news coming in from FIFA is that Nigeria ranked up back to 4th position in Africa and 41 in the world football rankings after a rough and tough time during the qualifiers match. The last match in which they won Benin Republic Gav them a boost by increasing their points in the world rankings criteria used to rank national teams and their performance.  If Nigeria really had performed well from the beginning of this qualifiers series, they would have climbed up the list to top Africa as the best team but it is unfortunate that Nigeria dropped in rank both in world ranking and continental ranking as well.

Source

My question is that has FIFA ever ranked Nigeria 1st in Africa? I guess they haven't and they won't do that except if Nigeria wins more Nations cup tournament than other African countries and also make a good performance during world cup games. Well, it was very obvious that FIFA would increase their ranking after the win against Benin since their performance that day was a very spectacular one but that shouldn't get to their head because they still have a great task ahead which is winning the playoffs because if they don't qualify for the world cup, then the FIFA ranking might drop again.

[Stable090]

Celebration for what, they'd better sit tight and work more harder because if they are beating Benin and rejoicing over victory, this shows they don't know what they are doing, we need to know how we can face the big obstacles ahead and not the small ones and rejoicing over them, personally i don't even see this as a victory, because we don't have the goals the most important times we needed them, what is the essence of laughing after the head has been cut off.

I don’t know what the super eagles are even celebrating, they are lucky to qualify for the playoff, because if they couldn’t defeat Benin in the last match, it’s Won’t have been possible. Super eagles are suppose to be at the top of the table in their group, it’s surprising that the super eagles are now struggling to qualify for World Cup, they ended the competition in second position, and they will have to play the playoff, it’s really shameful to see the super eagles playing the playoff, because with the squad depth which they are having, I don’t think any country should be able to win or draw super eagles.

I know the super eagles will do everything possible to qualify for the World Cup right now, and with the performance which they put up in their last match, they should be able to achieve that, but the super eagles have to work on their performance, because they going to be meeting with better countries when they qualify for the World Cup.

[SatoPrincess]

The latest news coming in from FIFA is that Nigeria ranked up back to 4th position in Africa and 41 in the world football rankings after a rough and tough time during the qualifiers match. The last match in which they won Benin Republic Gav them a boost by increasing their points in the world rankings criteria used to rank national teams and their performance.  If Nigeria really had performed well from the beginning of this qualifiers series, they would have climbed up the list to top Africa as the best team but it is unfortunate that Nigeria dropped in rank both in world ranking and continental ranking as well.

Source

In my opinion is not something to be excited about. The Super Eagles hasn’t improved in their performance, a boost in “Africa’s rankings” does not change the fact that our boys are not dependable and trusted to win important matches. I think Osimhen is able to score goals in this team because he is well rounded striker and can be a one man show. If you take Osimhen out of the team and we have nothing. Just a bunch of good players who can’t play together as a team.

[Salahmu]

My question is that has FIFA ever ranked Nigeria 1st in Africa? I guess they haven't and they won't do that except if Nigeria wins more Nations cup tournament than other African countries and also make a good performance during world cup games.

Have you looked in the past to no if they had made any ranking on them? Because the national team in the past deserves to have had it then because if is a trophy we no they won and the whole African saw there appearance so if they do not get the ranking, getting it at this present time will not be a meter close to it because ranking is from trophy you have currently won and characteristics of continuity but super eagle are neither of this or will they skip the countries with world cup standard to give people who barely get that. However how many African tournament can they even win if that means can give them a rank, there situation cannot attract it because we could list countries that should be talking about it.

[IceLincoln]

With the change of formation and starting lineups, i think we are now ready to compete in the highest level, ...

I think you are just exaggerating, saying we are now ready to compete on the highest level. We are still very much below standard if you ask me; I don't think the Super Eagles can face the U21 team of Argentina, talk less of their senior team. I don't mean to be a pessimist, but don't get your hopes high; we still may not make it to the World Cup.

What do you guys think of players like Nketiah and Hudson-Odoi now offering themselves to play for Ghana in the World Cup now that they have been able to successfully qualify for it?

If I am the head coach of Ghana, since Hudson-Odoi and Nketiah knew about the World Cup qualifiers and they were fit to play for Ghana and help Ghana qualify for the World Cup, but they didn't show any interest to play for Ghana in that period, I will never give them a chance to represent Ghana in the World Cup because it will be a big disrespect for those players that came and helped Ghana qualify for the World Cup.

I agree with you 100% because these players are simply wanting to join the Ghanaian National team because they could not secure a place in the English team because of the many players they have.

Even if I let these players join the team, I simply will keep them on the bench and prioritize the players who made it possible for the team to make qualification.

They have shown more dedication and deserve the respect.

They should wait for their turn or time, I think that’s what some players of African descent who grew in Europe are upto now, that’s how Inaki Williams came to play for Ghana and even Bryan Mbeumo and so many others.
They sit back and watch the teams struggle and qualify and then they come as kings to enjoy a feast they didn’t partake in the hunting.
Or if I’m the Coach I’ll call them up give them a minute or two towards the end of a match and never use them again until the end of the tournament, maybe another tournament if they’re able to answer my call up then I can use them, if not bye bye to the National Team.