Former Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida has insisted that the Super Eagles would have qualified for the 2026 World Cup had they maintained the same standard of performance and dedication seen at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

After a nail-biting penalty shootout against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria were left to rue missing back-to-back World Cups.

The team had struggled in the group stage of the World Cup qualifiers, securing just three points from their opening four games. 

Draws against Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa, followed by a 2-1 loss to Gernot Rohr's Cheetahs in Abidjan, left the Super Eagles in a precarious position.

However, Eric Chelle's side put the World Cup setback behind them in Morocco, playing an exciting and attacking style of football, emerging as the highest-scoring team at the tournament and claiming the bronze medal.

Babangida noted that the Super Eagles performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was full of promise.

"I was in Morocco myself. I watched how the Super Eagles played, and it was very interesting—fresh players, a fresh start. Everybody was fighting to succeed, and if they fight that way, we could have been at the World Cup after five matches,” Babangida told AySuga Channel.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming friendlies against World Cup‑bound Asian sides Iran and Jordan, Babangida urged the Super Eagles to build on their strong showing at the Africa Cup of Nations despite uncertainty surrounding the future of manager Eric Chelle.

"Now that the friendlies are here, the coach will continue from where he stopped because many people will be watching. It's just a friendly, but we are waiting to see what the team will bring.

"Coming into the friendlies, we are still dealing with a coach whose future we don't know. It's time for us now to start building our team. I hope the issue of this coach will be resolved so that at least there will be concentration, and we can know the team. If he leaves and another coach comes, then there will be a new system and different players."

Nigeria will take on Iran on Friday, March 27 in Turkey before concluding their March fixtures against Jordan four days later.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel