With qualification uncertainty hanging over the team, Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has acknowledged that the players are effectively in a holding pattern, hoping for a favourable outcome that could yet open the door to football’s biggest stage in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking to Supersport Football, the 29-year-old reflected on the emotional weight of potentially missing the World Cup and the wider implications for the current generation of Super Eagles players. When presented with a hypothetical choice between lifting the AFCON 2025 trophy and qualifying for the World Cup, Iwobi admitted the dilemma is far from straightforward.
While winning the Africa Cup of Nations would represent a major career milestone, Iwobi stressed that his perspective is shaped by the ambitions of his teammates. Having already featured at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, he noted that many players in the squad are yet to experience the tournament and dream of doing so at least once in their careers. For that reason, he explained, prioritising personal legacy over collective opportunity would feel unfair.
Iwobi’s guarded optimism mirrors the broader mood within the NFF, which has formally petitioned FIFA following Nigeria’s penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a World Cup qualification play-off at the Moulay Hassan Stadium last November. Despite the setback, officials believe the Super Eagles’ hopes may not be entirely over.
The federation’s petition alleges that DR Congo fielded up to six ineligible players during the decisive match, citing what it describes as a “dual nationality trap.” According to the NFF, while FIFA statutes allow for nationality switches, DR Congo’s constitution does not recognise dual citizenship, potentially rendering some players ineligible.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Sanusi Mohammed, has maintained that Nigeria’s case is strong and justified, reinforcing the belief that a favourable ruling could revive the country’s qualification prospects.
Nigeria recently claimed a bronze medal at AFCON 2025 in Morocco and continue to be regarded as one of Africa’s most talented squads. For now, however, both players and officials remain in limbo—waiting to see whether hope will turn into a second chance on the road to the 2026 World Cup.