Tinubu Mounts Pressure On NSC, NFF To Secure Nigeria’s Qualification For 2026 World Cup

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is exerting pressure on the chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure Nigeria qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

The NSC chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, disclosed this at a special event hosted by the national youth leader of the APC, titled ‘Evening with Dikko’, held on Tuesday evening in Abuja.

Dikko revealed that President Tinubu is intensely focused on Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup, stating that during their meetings, the President routinely inquires, “Are we going to qualify for the World Cup?”

At one point, according to Dikko, the President considered establishing a Presidential Task Force (PTF) to support Nigeria’s bid for World Cup qualification. “Whenever I meet with Mr. President, he solely asks, ‘Are we going to qualify for the World Cup?'”

“The President is genuinely passionate and increasingly concerned about our qualification for the World Cup. It’s essential that we provide the team with all the necessary support to win their remaining four matches; every game now feels like a final. However, the challenges did not begin with our administration,” Dikko remarked.

He further noted, “The President had contemplated setting up a Task Force to bolster Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup, but ultimately, it is up to Nigerians to ensure the team meets the required standards.”

Dikko expressed confidence that the recent rewards granted to the Super Falcons for winning the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and to D’Tigress for clinching the Afrobasket title for five consecutive times would motivate the Super Eagles players to secure their World Cup qualifying spot, especially for the President and the Nigerian people.

“Following the President’s gift to the Super Falcons, the Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, contacted me, remarking, ‘We have seen the President’s gesture to the Super Falcons; we too will deliver.’

“This is the type of motivation we seek to instil in the team. If we secure this World Cup ticket, the President will undoubtedly be pleased, and only God knows what further support he will provide to ensure the team performs admirably at the World Cup,” Dikko stated.

“We have established a new bonus system for the Super Eagles players. Before their match against Rwanda, their match bonuses were assured, and similarly, their bonuses for the match against Zimbabwe were paid upfront. This unprecedented approach demonstrates that, with the support of Mr. President, we are committed to providing the Super Eagles with the necessary resources to succeed.”

The Super Eagles will resume their World Cup qualification campaign on 6 September when they host the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, before travelling to Bloemfontein to face South Africa at the Toyota Stadium three days later, on 9 September. Under Coach Eric Chelle, the Eagles must secure victories in both matches to revitalise their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup finals.

After the September double-header, the Super Eagles will travel to Lesotho and conclude their campaign with a home match against Benin in October.

Currently, South Africa leads the group with 13 points from six matches, while Nigeria sits in fourth place with seven points after a disappointing record of one win, four draws, and one defeat. Despite a challenging start, Nigeria remains mathematically in the race, with four fixtures left to play.

Three-time African champions, Nigeria aims to qualify for their seventh World Cup finals, having missed out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.