Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles of Nigeria can still make it to the 2026 World Cup in the light of the protest against DR Congo for fielding ineligible players in the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria were beaten 2-4 on penalties by DR Congo in the world cup qualifiers playoff, effectively ending their hope of picking the remaining two available tickets via the intercontinental playoff next month.
However the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) petitioned FIFA on around seven players of DR Congo, who played in the game not being eligible for holding citizenship of other countries as against their constitution, which doesn’t allow for dual citizenship.
A ruling is expected in the coming days, and Iwobi who was at the 2018 World Cup was asked in an interview on if he would trade the Super Eagles winning the AFCON for a spot at the world cup in Canada, Mexico and USA.
“I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one. It’s a tough one because within AFCONs like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have like in your career, a memorable moment.
But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one. I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
