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

[Agbe]

Will Nigeria Super Eagles Qualify in the 2026 World Cup?

Things are about to turn around for good for Super Eagles to join the World. I was watching Arise TV this morning and the National Chairman of Sports Commission was answering Some questions from the Journalists and one of them was saying it is very bad that Nigeria is trying to join the World Cup in a Corner Corner way, instead of beating Dr. Congo black blue to qualify. And the Chairman said, they are not joining the World Cup in a corner corner way but it is part of the law in FIFA.

I first saw the information on ads. And later watched it on Arise TV. Nigeria is paying her way in to the World Cup.

Do you have the information that actually explains how they are going to qualify?, because to me I see this news as old news that was said maybe during or before super eagles last match, the answer to this is no because they are left with no longer opportunity to go there, you can put me through if you believe they will join the world Cup because when I see this I was asking people around me if they have seen any news that said super eagles is going to join the world Cup next year but all of them said is not possible that they remained unqualified as they are except for next time they will compete again.

I think you see the image I posted, so what make you to think that it is an old news, I said in the first post that I watched the news this morning in Arise TV and you are saying old news. I saw it first on social media yesterday night and Surprised to see it on the TV program this morning 19 of December 2025. The Journalist was asking the Chairman why they are trying to do corner corner way to join the world cup when they're free chances for them to join. Only that statement says it all. As a Nigerian, you know the meaning of corner corner. And the Chairman said it is part of the FIFA law. So they are going to use that clause of the law.

[Mr Reporter]

In other words, are you trying to say that other players should rely on Osimhen and when he's not available they should relent and lose a match? Make me understand you cause I don't seem to understand your point. I totally agree with Spaceman1000$ that where Osimhen is not available, "the available players becomes the desired" and those players should be motivated to try win the match for their talisman and give him hope that the team would survive when he's not available, just like the Portuguese players did it for Ronaldo in the 2016 Euro Final.

Rely on only Osimhen as the only player and the goal keeper or what, we know that Osimhen is a very good player whose influence in the pitch is highly needed when the super eagles are playing but what about he is not fit to play so Nigeria super eagles should cancel there matches and wait until he is fit to play, if any think like this, then it means we should be considering to get more persons that plays exactly like Osimhen instead of relying on him alone, what is the work of other players, or are they there for nothing, there is no need to make case of our nothing, in the absence of Osimhen other players should perform in that capacity.

Congratulations to you Mr Rockson srn member ranks look good on you!! Back to the matter on ground i feel that Osimhen is not the only greatest player the super eagles are having right now? Well I think Osimhen having to be one of the greatest striker in the history i feel him should still be given a chance to get well before going out their to play their game because I as it looks the super eagle are not on a good sand in playing the World Cup, well will all no that sometime football games can not be predicted most time but I feel it better to get ready than having having to face problems when the game is on i dont no if you understand this…..

[Princess Leah]

Congratulations to you Mr Rockson srn member ranks look good on you!! Back to the matter on ground i feel that Osimhen is not the only greatest player the super eagles are having right now? Well I think Osimhen having to be one of the greatest striker in the history i feel him should still be given a chance to get well before going out their to play their game because I as it looks the super eagle are not on a good sand in playing the World Cup, well will all no that sometime football games can not be predicted most time but I feel it better to get ready than having having to face problems when the game is on i dont no if you understand this…..

Others that we know are not playing up to their standards so for now anyone is right to say that Osimhen is the most outstanding player in the Super Eagles, haven't you noticed that the team always perform poorly and find it difficult to find the net when Osimhen is not in the squad but whenever he's around he always do his best to score and give hope to spectators.

 It's something to worry about cause you'll be wondering how the Super Eagles would cope when Osimhen retires from national team football. As for the world cup, I'm not very confident in Nigeria and It's better for them to try again some other time than going there to embarrass themselves.

[Fiatless]

In other words, are you trying to say that other players should rely on Osimhen and when he's not available they should relent and lose a match? Make me understand you cause I don't seem to understand your point. I totally agree with Spaceman1000$ that where Osimhen is not available, "the available players becomes the desired" and those players should be motivated to try win the match for their talisman and give him hope that the team would survive when he's not available, just like the Portuguese players did it for Ronaldo in the 2016 Euro Final.

There is no need to overemphaise this issue.  It is obvious that without Victor osimhen, the Super Eagles will underperform. The World Cup qualifier games against South Africa and Congo DR proved this fact. Maybe we might see a different team in the Afcon that will play independently. The available players should prove to Nigerias that Victor is not the only important player.

[Mr Reporter]

Congratulations to you Mr Rockson srn member ranks look good on you!! Back to the matter on ground i feel that Osimhen is not the only greatest player the super eagles are having right now? Well I think Osimhen having to be one of the greatest striker in the history i feel him should still be given a chance to get well before going out their to play their game because I as it looks the super eagle are not on a good sand in playing the World Cup, well will all no that sometime football games can not be predicted most time but I feel it better to get ready than having having to face problems when the game is on i dont no if you understand this…..

Others that we know are not playing up to their standards so for now anyone is right to say that Osimhen is the most outstanding player in the Super Eagles, haven't you noticed that the team always perform poorly and find it difficult to find the net when Osimhen is not in the squad but whenever he's around he always do his best to score and give hope to spectators.

 It's something to worry about cause you'll be wondering how the Super Eagles would cope when Osimhen retires from national team football. As for the world cup, I'm not very confident in Nigeria and It's better for them to try again some other time than going there to embarrass themselves.

Smiles my friend there is no long talk on this because I have noticed it like most time to see how he plays with confidence and how he is well trained and he played with high energy than the other dont misunderstand am not trying to praise him that much the guy is good so I think the super eagle going out there to try their lucky on the World Cup is not a crime it just a game of luck… with the way you sounded this doesn’t really make you a fan of any team because this has nothing to do with fear from the super eagle team.

Well I need you to understand better that the Nigeria not winning doesn’t discredit us as losers forever I feel it just a matter of time to recover from our lost soon the advice is to add more guys on the team and keep trying again and again I think that it how it been done.

[Youngrebel]

What's the future for the Nigeria Super Eagles with the new elected captain.  I hope he makes a great difference with all of his international quality he has. For me, I'm sure he's going to be a great captain and make good history.  He is leading the team to the upcoming African Cup of Nations and I believe it will be a good time to his performance and more of his leadership capacities.

[IceLincoln]

There is no doubt that Osimhen's presence will definitely be an additional advantage, but if it comes to a situation where he is not available, the available guys will become the desirable because we still have topnotch strikers too in that team.

The Super Eagles can do without Osimhen if he gets injured but i just like the influence of the striker because he has an aura that is very distinctive from the rest of the squad. I pray he doesn't get injured to that he can showcase his best performance all through the tournament but the only doubt am having is that Victor Osimhen may not be lively for the Super Eagles again because his morale reduced after the World Cup qualifier matches when Nigeria couldn't make it to the 2026 FIFA world cup.

My brother What’s the meaning of “Can Do without Osimhen”?…. How many times has it been tested and what’s the result. Yes the National team can play without him but what’s the outcome of the matches without him?… how many have we won so far?…
Before Victor Osimhen the Super Eagles were balling hard, we don’t normally have one player carrying the whole team but since his eruption the whole burden has been on him, the last Afcon he was the reason Ademola Lookman shone cos while all the opponents defense focused on him he created an opportunity for others.
In summary: At the Moment the Super Eagles of Nigeria can’t do anything without Victor Osimhen.

[Stepstowealth]

What's the future for the Nigeria Super Eagles with the new elected captain.  I hope he makes a great difference with all of his international quality he has. For me, I'm sure he's going to be a great captain and make good history.  He is leading the team to the upcoming African Cup of Nations and I believe it will be a good time to his performance and more of his leadership capacities.

It is a good thing that Wilfred Ndidi has some experience already in being the captain of a team, so he knows what is expected of him. He has been captain for Leicester City, and that is a big one to me. I think he will do well in his capacity to help the Super Eagles stay calm and focus while playing on the pitch. If Nigeria is able to win the AFCON, that will be a better record for him.

The vice captains are Moses Simon, Iwobi and Osimhen in first, second and third order. I am surprised Moses Simon is coming before Iwobi.

[RedFlix]

After Morocco won the Arab Cup and having reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, I believe African teams will take them seriously and will fear facing them. The Moroccan team lineup will be different from the one that participated in the Arab Cup. Expectations that the second team lineup will be double stronger and will reach the finals easy.

Congratulations Morocco 

[Mayor of ogba]

After Morocco won the Arab Cup and having reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, I believe African teams will take them seriously and will fear facing them. The Moroccan team lineup will be different from the one that participated in the Arab Cup. Expectations that the second team lineup will be double stronger and will reach the finals easy.

Congratulations Morocco 

Morocco put the whole African race on the map when they reached the semi-final in the last World Cup that took place in Saudi Arabia, but it won't make other African teams fear Morocco because they are used to playing against Morocco. I can't say that Morocco can't reach the upcoming African Cup of Nations final, but let's just fold our hands and watch how the race for the African Cup of Nations trophy unfolds.

[Oshio-man]

What's the future for the Nigeria Super Eagles with the new elected captain.  I hope he makes a great difference with all of his international quality he has. For me, I'm sure he's going to be a great captain and make good history.  He is leading the team to the upcoming African Cup of Nations and I believe it will be a good time to his performance and more of his leadership capacities.

I don't think this new captain will change anything good for super eagle in this African cup of nations because they don't still have reliable goalkeeper they will use in this African cup of nations tournament that will make Nigerian to have hope of winning the cup, don't forget that captain is not a coach that will be feeding the players with different strategies to win match, sometimes coach use to change some captain to bring in player that is on bench to play because captain are not the best player in the field, i know that super eagle have talented forward players that will do what they know how to do best in this African cup of nations to make their fans and their teams know that they can display excellently in any tournament.

[MainIbem]

My brother What’s the meaning of “Can Do without Osimhen”?…. How many times has it been tested and what’s the result. Yes the National team can play without him but what’s the outcome of the matches without him?… how many have we won so far?…
Before Victor Osimhen the Super Eagles were balling hard, we don’t normally have one player carrying the whole team but since his eruption the whole burden has been on him, the last Afcon he was the reason Ademola Lookman shone cos while all the opponents defense focused on him he created an opportunity for others.
In summary: At the Moment the Super Eagles of Nigeria can’t do anything without Victor Osimhen.

As it stands, Osimhen is the talisman of the Super Eagles and it's obvious that they can't do without him till another star that can be like him is discovered so anyone saying that they can do without him should retrace that statement cause it doesn't make sense cause when he had injuries the team really suffered some setback in the qualifiers. It's high time other players sit up and do better, they can't be relying on one player to carry the whole burden of team when there are players like Simon, Iwobi, Chukwueze, and even Lookman you mentioned, what pains me most is that they all shine in their various clubs but can't replicate same for their country.

[SuperBitMan]

Will Nigeria Super Eagles Qualify in the 2026 World Cup?

Things are about to turn around for good for Super Eagles to join the World. I was watching Arise TV this morning and the National Chairman of Sports Commission was answering Some questions from the Journalists and one of them was saying it is very bad that Nigeria is trying to join the World Cup in a Corner Corner way, instead of beating Dr. Congo black blue to qualify. And the Chairman said, they are not joining the World Cup in a corner corner way but it is part of the law in FIFA.

I first saw the information on ads. And later watched it on Arise TV. Nigeria is paying her way in to the World Cup.

I have already lost hope for Nigeria to go to the world cup after there lost, I wanted us to go to the world cup but since we didn't qualify i have lost hope totally so this thing they are bringing up is something I really don't understand even if Nigeria should go to the world cup because FIFA decides to disqualify Congo i will not take them serious because they will still be disqualified in the group stage, a team that can't qualify for the world cup in a proper way can never go far in the world cup, I really don't want a situation where Nigeria Super Eagles will go to the world cup and disgrace us, since they didn't qualify they shouldn't go to the world cup that is all I can say about this matter.
Congo should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of their hard work i don't support FIFA disqualifying them in the World Cup.

[snipie]

I have already lost hope for Nigeria to go to the world cup after there lost
...
I really don't want a situation where Nigeria Super Eagles will go to the world cup and disgrace us...

The reason that Nigeria FF make a complaint to FIFA is the fact that Congo doesn't recognise dual citizenship. These allegations might become serious after Malaysia incident and Super Eagles might proceed to the intercontinental play-offs. Regardless of the FIFA rules I am disgusted with all these tricks all nations are using to qualify using illegal ways or to disqualify others via legal procedures.
Considering the high probability to see Nigeria proceeding to the next play-offs, I hope they just disqualify if they will keep bad results to avoid humiliation in the World Cup competition in front of the the whole world.

[Hardyrobust]

I have already lost hope for Nigeria to go to the world cup after there lost
...
I really don't want a situation where Nigeria Super Eagles will go to the world cup and disgrace us...

The reason that Nigeria FF make a complaint to FIFA is the fact that Congo doesn't recognise dual citizenship. These allegations might become serious after Malaysia incident and Super Eagles might proceed to the intercontinental play-offs. Regardless of the FIFA rules I am disgusted with all these tricks all nations are using to qualify using illegal ways or to disqualify others via legal procedures.
Considering the high probability to see Nigeria proceeding to the next play-offs, I hope they just disqualify if they will keep bad results to avoid humiliation in the World Cup competition in front of the the whole world.

it is FIFA that will decide the punishment for Dr Congo if they find out that the suit file Nigeria football federation is true. There are different punishment that Congo may face if this accusations is actually true. For now nobody can say for sure if it will be to stop then from participating in the world cup . They maybe ask to pay so fine , but all the same it is left for FIFA to decide. Therefore I don't think the super eagles should be celebrating yet until they get a response from FIFA.

[Roseline492]

It is a good thing that Wilfred Ndidi has some experience already in being the captain of a team, so he knows what is expected of him. He has been captain for Leicester City, and that is a big one to me. I think he will do well in his capacity to help the Super Eagles stay calm and focus while playing on the pitch. If Nigeria is able to win the AFCON, that will be a better record for him.

The vice captains are Moses Simon, Iwobi and Osimhen in first, second and third order. I am surprised Moses Simon is coming before Iwobi.

Don't mind as the vice captain names are appearing that way because those three are just equal and doesn't mean they will follow the captainship serially from the first name to the last but however they can give anybody from the three without given the first person, so those names are just for the teams to be aware of them so that people don't have to wonder and starts predict or choosing who will be the super eagles captain as people were celebrating here when the former captain Ekong was retiring. Captain is not even the problem because apart from leading the players it doesn't give anything else.

[Fiatless]

https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/20/afcon-now-to-be-played-every-four-years/

The African Cup of Nations will now be played every four years. There have been discussions that Africa should synchronise its competition with other continents. CAF president Patrice Motsepe said harmonising the AFCON with other continental competitions is for the good of African football. AFCON has caused instability in some clubs because many African players would have to leave for the competition every two years. I think this is a good development.

[Callido]

The African Cup of Nations will now be played every four years. There have been discussions that Africa should synchronise its competition with other continents. CAF president Patrice Motsepe said harmonising the AFCON with other continental competitions is for the good of African football. AFCON has caused instability in some clubs because many African players would have to leave for the competition every two years. I think this is a good development.

Apart from giving instability to the club, of course the club pays them so they deserve to maintain their squad to be injury free at all times, but personally, i don't welcome the new development. There is nothing wrong with having to play the AFCON every two years, for the national sports, football is the most entertaining and waiting for four years is absolute trash development to put in order.

[uche6215]

https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/20/afcon-now-to-be-played-every-four-years/

The African Cup of Nations will now be played every four years. There have been discussions that Africa should synchronise its competition with other continents. CAF president Patrice Motsepe said harmonising the AFCON with other continental competitions is for the good of African football. AFCON has caused instability in some clubs because many African players would have to leave for the competition every two years. I think this is a good development.

I don't think so alot of European clubs has been disrespecting the Afcon and CAF and FIFA has not done anything about it. Just imagine that some European based players are just arriving their country squads just some days to the Afcon is a sign that the Afcon has not been respected by other nations. We can't be coping the tradition of other continents, playing the Afcon on a yearly basis is what we have grown up to see and it has become our tradition trying to change it is just to show that CAF is only playing out the script written for them by FIFA and their European leagues. We must not always bend to satisfy their European influence this is what is also  happening in circulation politics this is a shame to me coming from CAF.

[Fiatless]

I don't think so alot of European clubs has been disrespecting the Afcon and CAF and FIFA has not done anything about it. Just imagine that some European based players are just arriving their country squads just some days to the Afcon is a sign that the Afcon has not been respected by other nations. We can't be coping the tradition of other continents, playing the Afcon on a yearly basis is what we have grown up to see and it has become our tradition trying to change it is just to show that CAF is only playing out the script written for them by FIFA and their European leagues. We must not always bend to satisfy their European influence this is what is also  happening in circulation politics this is a shame to me coming from CAF.

AFCON is not played every year; rather, it is a biennial competition. The only reason why I might not be comfortable with the four-year decision is the money that is raised every two years. African football requires funding to develop the game in many countries. The new four-year plan will reduce the revenue that is usually realised in two years.

Change is constant and there is nothing to be ashamed of if CAF want to make adjustments. FIFA and UEFA are always making changes to their competitions to make them convenient for the players and more entertaining for fans. CAF can copy policies from other Footbal organising body if it will help African football.