The Super Eagles are condemned to win back-to-back games against two of the best teams on the continent…
2013 Africa Cup of Nations hero Sunday Mba has stated that the only way the Super Eagles can win the continental World Cup playoffs is by approaching the games the same way they approached their last game against Benin, Soccernet.ng reports.
After finishing as one of the best-ranked second-placed teams in the World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria will have to go through the continental and Intercontinental playoffs to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.
Their first game is against Gabon on November 13. Then, they will face the winner of the game between DR Congo and Cameroon a few days later.
The playoffs will be very tight, given the quality of the teams that will be participating. However, former Super Eagles midfielder, Mba, believes that the team has a good shot at winning if they produce the same performance they did in their 4-0 thrashing of Benin earlier in the month.
“Let’s bring that same spirit from the last game against Benin,” Mba told AY Shuga.
“If we have that same spirit, we will qualify. But if anything should happen to that spirit, it’s shaky. That’s a perfect spirit. That’s the spirit we need now because we are in a tight corner.”
Mba was a crucial part of the Super Eagles team that won the AFCON in 2013, under the tutelage of late Stephen Keshi.
The former Enugu Rangers man scored in the quarterfinal against Ivory Coast and then supplied the winning goal in the final against Burkina Faso.
Where And When Will The Super Eagles’ Playoffs Take Place?
The continent World Cup playoffs will take place next month. All the games will be played in Morocco.
Nigeria will first play against Gabon on November 13 at the Complex Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan.
If they win, they will face the winner of the game between Cameroon and DR Congo in the same stadium on November 16.
If the Super Eagles can navigate past these opponents, they will seal a ticket to the Intercontinental playoffs next year.