SUPER Eagles of Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has admitted that he would have preferred the team to have qualified straight for the 2026 FIFA World Cup rather than having to go through a circuitous play-off route.
Nigeria defeated Benin Republic 4-0 in Uyo on Tuesday to finish second in African qualifying Group C behind South Africa, thereby securing one of four spots for the play-offs in Morocco in November.
The Super Eagles will face Gabon first in the African play-offs on November 13, and if they win, Troost-Ekong and his colleagues will battle Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo for a ticket to the intercontinental play-offs scheduled for Mexico in March.
“We are quite happy to have that opportunity. It is a long route but it is a route afterall,” Troost-Ekong said after the victory over Benin, inspired by Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick.
“We would have loved to get the automatic ticket but it didn’t happen and we take what we have.
“For us, we will remain strong and tough and ready to confront every challenge on our way as we search for the ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“It was a wonderful team effort on Tuesday evening. Everyone contributed; each person played their part.
“If the other match (South Africa vs Rwanda) had gone in favour, we would be with the automatic ticket now. But that’s life. You take what you get and run with it, and make the best of it.”
The intercontinental play-offs will be held in Guadalajara and Monterrey in March, with six teams battling for two World Cup tickets.
The teams are the African play-offs winners, Bolivia, New Caledonia, winners of Asian play-off between Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, and two from Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama.