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

[Donneski]

This Ivory Coast and Gabon group is so dope that even 23 and 22 points hasn't yet guaranteed you an automatic ticket in the upcoming world cup. The group is so competitive amongst these two teams that non of them has qualified yet. Seychelles just came to distribute points to other teams there because so far after 9 matches, they have accumulated zero points and conceded 44 goals in 9 games, which means they are averaging 4.8 goals negative in every match.

As the reigning African champions, I totally understand why Ivory Coast have been able to take 23 points after 9 games but for Garbon, how did they actually managed to garner such intimidating number of points? I've not been following what's happening in other groups —not because I'm not interested but because I'm concentrating in the Super Eagles of Nigeria group where they're struggling to qualify.
That said, I think Garbon is supposed to reach the next edition of the FIFA World Cup for their efforts, if not as group winners, then through the playoffs.

[nelson4lov]

Keep calm, its not over until its over. Football is a game that the unexpected can happen. Dont be shocked to see the game turn out to be on Rwanda's favor.
The only problem Rwanda would have is that they will be playing at South Africa's home. Its always difficult playing against thousands of South African fans.

Rwanda has a vital role if Nigeria wants to qualify. Nigeria has the biggest role to play because they have to win Benin Republic with a margin of 2 to 3 goals ahead. We all know how difficult the final game would be but I believe there will be a positive result.

I know there's still a chance that the super eagles might qualify but the odds for that are super low. I'll put it between 5-20% or less because it depends on more than one factor. If we do manage to get anything, imo, that would be for second place which is not a clear path to the world cup due to the playoffs. My expectations for the qualifiers is at an all time low because I always prefer if we win our spot cleanly rather than finding narrow gaps and praying.

If we do goto the world cup, aren't we going to sign "all we're saying, give us one goal" throughout until we get knocked out eventually?

[SatoPrincess]

Nigeria yesterday didn’t have a good game I must confess, after having their 2 goals lead, you can see how relaxed they became on the pitch and conceived some cheap goals out of a cheap mistake. They were lucky to have escaped with all 3 points else, Lesotho would have found their way back in.

Nwabali made a lot of errors, errors that would have cost us the game. We were lucky to have gotten the second goal and be able to secure it. Our performance was not very impressive, it is very sad that we are still struggling to qualify when so many teams have made qualification already. I doubt the ability of this coach even if we are able to make it to the world cup that he will be able to take Nigeria through the group stages of the World Cup. It is a painful thing and will be a shame if we are unable to qualify for the world cup with this quality of players that we have.

Indeed very lucky to come out of that game with a win and didn’t get punished by tge errors we made in the game. However we could improve and get better in the next game, hopefully Nwabali along side the other players will be more focused in the remaining game.

[rakebit]

African qualifiers are always unpredictable, teams like Nigeria, Morocco, and Senegal have strong squads, but away games can be tricky due to travel and pitch conditions. Betting live after kickoff can give a better edge once tempo and form are clear. Which team do you see as the biggest dark horse this round?

[Barikui1]

As the reigning African champions, I totally understand why Ivory Coast have been able to take 23 points after 9 games but for Garbon, how did they actually managed to garner such intimidating number of points? I've not been following what's happening in other groups —not because I'm not interested but because I'm concentrating in the Super Eagles of Nigeria group where they're struggling to qualify.
That said, I think Garbon is supposed to reach the next edition of the FIFA World Cup for their efforts, if not as group winners, then through the playoffs.

Seeing a lower level team like Gabon accumulating up to 22 points makes me feel jealous, no disrespect to them, and  our super eagles that has top quality players in their ranks accumulating only 14 points so far is very alarming and disappointing, I expected more from our super eagles team but look at them, struggling with their calculator in their hands hoping for south Africa to lose which we are not even sure if we can beat this Benin republic side, but all hope is not lost, let's just be hopeful of something miraculous happening that day against Benin republic, but our hopes of making it to the finals of next year fifa world cup competition is very low

[Majestic-milf]

 This is really the situation Nigeria is in right now and this begs the question that has already being asked several times; why must Nigeria always wait or rely on other nations to help them qualify. As it is they will play so poorly and later on start relying on others. For the case of South Africa, if those three points hadn't been deducted, that means they would have automatically qualified.

[Futurexxx]

 This is really the situation Nigeria is in right now and this begs the question that has already being asked several times; why must Nigeria always wait or rely on other nations to help them qualify. As it is they will play so poorly and later on start relying on others. For the case of South Africa, if those three points hadn't been deducted, that means they would have automatically qualified.

This is quite funny 
They are now begging each other for a favour, but the sad reality is that Nigeria is even in a more difficult state than the south Africans, because if the south Africans can win Rwanda and Nigeria fails to win Benin republic, they are likely going to qualify for a playoff, which I know that with what I have seen from them, they are likely going to qualify, but as for our super eagles, they have a whole lot of prayers to do considering the obstacles on their way, but in my own perspective, I think that Benin republic will top the group and the south Africans will come out second because our super eagles is not good enough to win this Benin republic team even on our own turf.

[SatoPrincess]

Fortunately Ghana top their group table and have almost secure their qualification. I say almost because it will take only a loss in their next game and Madagascar beat their opponents. I’m thinking that since Ghana couldn’t beat Comoros in the first leg, will they be able to do it this time? I don’t know.

They will. Ghana is way better than the other teams in their group and I don't know why they underestimated Madagascar at that game. Well there is Mali which used to be good too in the past but they are quite weak right now. We will see if they can stand against Madagascar next time, otherwise Ghana to qualify.
Nigeria game will start soon against Lesotho with Osimhen and Lookman in the starting eleven. They have no other choice than winning the game.

4-1 was not the scoreline I was expecting. If Madagascar had kept same performance level as they had against Ghana (who happens to be the top performing nation in group 1), I’m pretty sure the results would have been different. Madagascar were in second position  so I was  not expecting an easy game for Mali when they faced Madagascar. I’m shocked how things played out at the end of the day.

[Jostern]

As the reigning African champions, I totally understand why Ivory Coast have been able to take 23 points after 9 games but for Garbon, how did they actually managed to garner such intimidating number of points? I've not been following what's happening in other groups —not because I'm not interested but because I'm concentrating in the Super Eagles of Nigeria group where they're struggling to qualify.
That said, I think Garbon is supposed to reach the next edition of the FIFA World Cup for their efforts, if not as group winners, then through the playoffs.

Seeing a lower level team like Gabon accumulating up to 22 points makes me feel jealous, no disrespect to them, and  our super eagles that has top quality players in their ranks accumulating only 14 points so far is very alarming and disappointing, I expected more from our super eagles team but look at them, struggling with their calculator in their hands hoping for south Africa to lose which we are not even sure if we can beat this Benin republic side, but all hope is not lost, let's just be hopeful of something miraculous happening that day against Benin republic, but our hopes of making it to the finals of next year fifa world cup competition is very low

I share your sentiment, and it’s w shameful thing for the Nigerian Super Eagles, who are struggling to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, when you see how Egypt and Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal and Ivory Coast are performing and they’ve all qualified with a good chance of qualifying for Ivory Coast.

This are countries who are on the same level with Nigeria, and Nigeria possibly have more stars and European players who are in the squad, and they did struggle to win games, that even Benin Republic even performed more than the Super Eagles, it’s really a bad performance for the Super Eagles in this World Cup qualification, and I doubt they’ll qualify because I don’t see how they will be able to beat Benin Republic.

[Majestic-milf]

This is quite funny 
They are now begging each other for a favour, but the sad reality is that Nigeria is even in a more difficult state than the south Africans, because if the south Africans can win Rwanda and Nigeria fails to win Benin republic, they are likely going to qualify for a playoff, which I know that with what I have seen from them, they are likely going to qualify, but as for our super eagles, they have a whole lot of prayers to do considering the obstacles on their way, but in my own perspective, I think that Benin republic will top the group and the south Africans will come out second because our super eagles is not good enough to win this Benin republic team even on our own turf.

Hate to sound like I don't mean well for Nigeria but I'd prefer that they don't qualify again for the WC because is it with this behavior that they would want to show there? Teams that are hungry for action at the World Cup competition are already putting in the work whereas Nigeria are just busy joking around.
Their past four results have been pitiful for a nation who call themselves the Giant of Africa. I keep saying it that no team is afraid of Nigeria at the moment and with Benin coach being a former coach of the Super Eagles, it will be a tough nut to crack as the man knows what strategy to employ that would worry them( Super Eagles).

[igebotz]

This is really the situation Nigeria is in right now and this begs the question that has already being asked several times; why must Nigeria always wait or rely on other nations to help them qualify. As it is they will play so poorly and later on start relying on others. For the case of South Africa, if those three points hadn't been deducted, that means they would have automatically qualified.

Sentiment a side, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa deserves the slot more than any team in that group, they're by far the better team, it's stupid they ended up in this situation like that,  it was unprofessional and foolish of the team to field an ineligible player thinking they would get away with it.

If they somehow lost the qualifications spot, the manager and those responsible for that idiotic decision should be held accountable.

I share your sentiment, and it’s w shameful thing for the Nigerian Super Eagles, who are struggling to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, when you see how Egypt and Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal and Ivory Coast are performing and they’ve all qualified with a good chance of qualifying for Ivory Coast.

They're more of a better team than the Super Eagles and we need only the best to represent us at the World Cup. There is a reason they're going to the World Cup and we're not.

[Fiatless]

 This is really the situation Nigeria is in right now and this begs the question that has already being asked several times; why must Nigeria always wait or rely on other nations to help them qualify. As it is they will play so poorly and later on start relying on others. For the case of South Africa, if those three points hadn't been deducted, that means they would have automatically qualified.

South Africa was portraying itself as the potential group winner. All over social media, they were mocking Nigerians, thinking that they had gotten the ticket. But now we are almost in the same corner. They are depending on Nigeria now for their qualification after the point deduction. It's not hatred, but I want Benin to qualify instead of South Africa. If Super Eagles fail to make it, I want Bafana Bafana to also be out.        

[Rruchi man]

...because our super eagles is not good enough to win this Benin republic team even on our own turf.

It would have been a very different discussion ongoing in this group had the Super Eagles been involved in a fatal air accident that claimed their lives. I am shocked that it has not been mentioned here.

The aircraft carrying the Super Eagles to Uyo made an emergency landing in Angola due to a heavy crack on the plane's windshield.


Glory to God that the situation was quickly noticed and it did not result in any serious accidents.

Flying with a cracked windshield challenges the structural integrity of the plane and reduces air visibility for pilots.

[Slow death]

 This is really the situation Nigeria is in right now and this begs the question that has already being asked several times; why must Nigeria always wait or rely on other nations to help them qualify. As it is they will play so poorly and later on start relying on others. For the case of South Africa, if those three points hadn't been deducted, that means they would have automatically qualified.

I've also asked myself the same question: why Nigeria is in this situation, given that they have the best squad compared to all the teams in this group. They have players who play for major European teams. But what I saw really shocked me. In European teams, the guys play very well. They shoot well, pass well, and make good saves.

But it's strange that when I watched their games in these qualifiers, they're playing poorly. They can't pass well, and they're not coordinated. They keep making serious and senseless defensive mistakes. It's honestly hard to understand how the same people can be good in Europe and so bad in Africa?

[igebotz]

...because our super eagles is not good enough to win this Benin republic team even on our own turf.

It would have been a very different discussion ongoing in this group had the Super Eagles been involved in a fatal air accident that claimed their lives. I am shocked that it has not been mentioned here.

The aircraft carrying the Super Eagles to Uyo made an emergency landing in Angola due to a heavy crack on the plane's windshield.

Glad it wasn't that terrible; I heard the aircraft is 25 years old; why on earth will the NFF jeopardise these men' lives with cheap logistics plans all the time.  What happened to all of the federal government planes?

Why can't they use one to fly the national team?  This is not nice news to discuss in public. I was glad everyone kept it a secret, but now it is no longer so. 

[Finebone]

It would have been a very different discussion ongoing in this group had the Super Eagles been involved in a fatal air accident that claimed their lives. I am shocked that it has not been mentioned here.

The aircraft carrying the Super Eagles to Uyo made an emergency landing in Angola due to a heavy crack on the plane's windshield.


Glory to God that the situation was quickly noticed and it did not result in any serious accidents.

Flying with a cracked windshield challenges the structural integrity of the plane and reduces air visibility for pilots.

Can you imagine?
What sorts of irresponsibility is this from our nff?
Though am just hearing this for the first time, but it's very bad that our nff will risk the lives of our players by boarding then in an old plane that they themselves will not ever want to utilize.
Thanks to  God Almighty that nothing happened to them, and they are all safe now. This is more of the reason why everyone in this our current nff has to go, wether we qualify for the world cup or not, they are just too incompetent for that position.

[MainIbem]

 This is really the situation Nigeria is in right now and this begs the question that has already being asked several times; why must Nigeria always wait or rely on other nations to help them qualify. As it is they will play so poorly and later on start relying on others. For the case of South Africa, if those three points hadn't been deducted, that means they would have automatically qualified.

This is quite funny 
They are now begging each other for a favour, but the sad reality is that Nigeria is even in a more difficult state than the south Africans, because if the south Africans can win Rwanda and Nigeria fails to win Benin republic, they are likely going to qualify for a playoff, which I know that with what I have seen from them, they are likely going to qualify, but as for our super eagles, they have a whole lot of prayers to do considering the obstacles on their way, but in my own perspective, I think that Benin republic will top the group and the south Africans will come out second because our super eagles is not good enough to win this Benin republic team even on our own turf.

It's funny mate, infact I laughed over it but let's be realistic, the Super Eagles messed up, we're not supposed to be at mercies of Benin Republic and Rwanda to qualify for the world cup, Nigeria is a strong African football nation and just like the likes of Ivory Coast and Gabon we should easily be qualifying in our group but then we can't, it makes me wonder if we're the giant of Africa or Super Eagles as the claim to be cause there's nothing Super about this Eagles that can't easily qualify in a group that's not even very tough, even if we manage to qualify I doubt they'll do well in the World Cup.

[knowngunman]

As the reigning African champions, I totally understand why Ivory Coast have been able to take 23 points after 9 games but for Garbon, how did they actually managed to garner such intimidating number of points? I've not been following what's happening in other groups —not because I'm not interested but because I'm concentrating in the Super Eagles of Nigeria group where they're struggling to qualify.
That said, I think Garbon is supposed to reach the next edition of the FIFA World Cup for their efforts, if not as group winners, then through the playoffs.

Seriously speaking, Super eagle is not allowing us to focus on other groups. I never knew a group like this exists in this qualification stage until now and I'm quite surprised to see Gabon having a good run behind Cote Devoir. Talking about familiarity in the football, Gabon is not that popular compared to the likes of Kenya that's trailing behind Gabon. How competitive this group is makes me wonder if Nigeria can even survive in a group like this. Mind you, Aubameyang is the most popular player in the team but see well they're performing. Nigeria with all the Super stars is struggling and hoping for others to lose so they can qualify. Even if Ivory Coast maintained that first position, Gabon would play in qualification play off as a second chance to qualify.

[Rruchi man]

...because our super eagles is not good enough to win this Benin republic team even on our own turf.

It would have been a very different discussion ongoing in this group had the Super Eagles been involved in a fatal air accident that claimed their lives. I am shocked that it has not been mentioned here.

The aircraft carrying the Super Eagles to Uyo made an emergency landing in Angola due to a heavy crack on the plane's windshield.

Glad it wasn't that terrible; I heard the aircraft is 25 years old;

I did some more digging to find out if the charter plane was about 25 years old, but it wasn't; it was a Valuejet CRJ-900 aircraft, and it is about 18-19 years old. That is still old, but I feel it was poorly maintained, hence the crack.

What happened to all of the federal government planes?

I think it is only a few of them that are airworthy; many are undergoing maintenance or maybe were in use at that time.

This is not nice news to discuss in public. I was glad everyone kept it a secret, but now it is no longer so.  

Most of the players posted it on their socials like Snapchat because that is where I saw it first, so I don't think they wanted to keep it a secret.

[SatoPrincess]

And the only miracle for us to qualify is if we win benin by +3 goals which is very hard ....

Not only that, South Africa must also fail to beat Rwanda in their own game. If South Africa beats Rwanda, whatever we do against Benin is futile. So pull out your calculator guys and start doing the maths, lol. Seriously, i don't see us beating Benin 3-0 or more, we struggle to get goals, so unless something really miraculous happens, which i hope it does, we are gonna miss back-to-back World cup's, so disappointing to say the least.

If we missed this world I would like the Nff boards to resign because I don't see their function or impacts on this Nigeria squad they are only concerned about what they put in their pockets.

The NFF are not doing well with the management of the Nigerian team. With the quality of players we have we are not supposed to be struggling to earn qualification for competitions. Qualifying for the world cup is the least we can achieve but we struggle to get it under this current administration so I see no reason why they should continue if we fail to qualify.