Stanley Nwabali Admits Super Eagles Left World Cup Push Too Late

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has voiced his frustration over Nigeria’s shaky 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

The Chippa United shot-stopper admitted the team has not done enough after Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

Nigeria currently sits third in Group C with 11 points from three games, behind leaders South Africa and Benin Republic. To stand any chance of qualifying, the Super Eagles must win their final two matches against Lesotho and Benin Republic while hoping for favourable results elsewhere.

“We (as a team) should have made more effort to qualify for the World Cup. We left it very late,” Nwabali told journalist Osasu Obayiuwana at the Bloemfontein Airport.

Opinion: Brutal Honesty from Nwabali, But Is It Too Late?

Nwabali’s comments may sting, but they reflect a truth fans have long whispered: the Super Eagles have underperformed when it mattered most. Qualification campaigns are not sprints but marathons, and Nigeria seemed to start the race half-asleep.

What makes his admission powerful is its honesty. Rarely do players acknowledge collective shortcomings so openly, and for a goalkeeper who has often been the team’s saviour, his words carry weight.

Now, the road ahead is brutally clear: win or bust. But even with six points from the last two games, Nigeria’s fate lies in the hands of others. That is the painful price of a poor start.

Still, football is a game of miracles, and Nigerian fans know the drama of last-minute turnarounds better than most. If the Super Eagles can summon the spirit of resilience that once defined them, perhaps Nwabali’s candid confession could serve as the spark for a historic comeback.

For now, his words are both a warning and a rallying cry: Nigeria must fight like never before.