The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in Group C of the CAF 2026 World Cup Qualifiers which will commence on November 13, 2023, and end on November 18, 2025.
The Super Eagles who failed to qualify for the 2022 edition of the tournament after losing their spot to Ghana via away goals rule, are condemned to bounce back to winning ways.
Interestingly, Jose Peseiro’s led team seems to have a relatively easy group to deal with. Super Eagles’ Group C comprises South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho.
Even though the aforementioned names sound weak when compared to the pedigree of the Super Eagles in both continental and world football, some of the teams can spring surprises and probably give the Super Eagles a run for their money especially a team like South Africa and even Benin.
Notwithstanding, the Eagles are the favorite to finish as table toppers in the group and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
CAF 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Here are how the teams will qualify
Due to the expanded format of the FIFA World Cup, Africa is expected to produce 9 to 10 representatives which is why all the countries associated with CAF were placed in nine groups of 6 teams.
The 6 teams of each group will play against each other in the home and away format. At the end of the CAF 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, the country that tops each group will automatically qualify for the tournament.
CAF will then choose the four best second-placed teams from the group that will feature in the CAF playoffs. The winner of the playoffs will then play in an intercontinental play-off. If the team wins the playoffs, Africa will have ten countries in the 2026 World Cup.
Below is the full draw of the 2026 World Cup Qualification round
Group A:
Ethiopia, Djibouti, Seriolione, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Egypt.
Group B
South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Mauritania, Congo DR, and Senegal.
Group C
Rwanda, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Benin, South Africa, and Nigeria.
Group D
Mauritius, Eswatini, Libya, Angola, Cape Verde, and Cameroon
Group E
Eritrea, Niger, Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, and Morocco.
Group F
Gambia, Kenya, Burundi, Seychelles, Gabon, and Cote d’Ivoire.
Group G
Mozambique, Somalia, Uganda, Botswana, Guinea, and Algeria.
Group H
Namibia, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, and Tunisia.
Group I
Chad, Madagascar, Comoros, Central African Republic, Ghana, and Mali.
