Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has shared his thoughts on what Nigeria must do to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Balogun, who last played for the national team in June 2022, acknowledged the tough situation the Super Eagles face in their qualification campaign. Nigeria currently sits fifth in Group C, four points behind Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin.
Speaking to Ay Suga Naija Lifestyle, the 36-year-old Rangers defender expressed confidence in the team’s ability to turn things around and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Read Also: Adepoju confident Super Eagles can qualify for 2026 World Cup
“Everybody knows it’s a very difficult situation. I think a lot of people believe it’s impossible, but if you are playing for the Nigerian Super Eagles, you need to have confidence,” Balogun said.
“We’re top of Africa, and we need to get back to the top. We need to earn it again. The reputation is still there, but we need to back it up with performances, and recently we’ve fallen short.
“No one is free from errors, but we still have six games left—that’s six chances to get it right. So why not go in there with supreme confidence? Look at the names in the squad—there’s no team we need to hide from.”
Balogun also praised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing a new manager in time to assess the squad and prepare for the crucial fixtures ahead.
“I think the NFF has done a good job in bringing in a new manager at the right time so he can assess players, scout, and prepare adequately.
“It’s always difficult for a manager to have enough time to prepare, but I think he’s been given a solid foundation and the freedom to implement his ideas. We just have to be patient and give him the time he needs. This will be a process, and the team must support him to make progress. It won’t always be smooth,” he added.
With 46 caps for Nigeria, Balogun reflected on his journey with the Super Eagles and emphasized their ability to overcome setbacks.
“It’ll be eleven years since I played my first game for the Super Eagles. We’ve overcome a lot as a team, and if we did it before, we can do it again. These players perform for their clubs week in, week out, so it’s about getting the best out of them,” he said.
Nigeria will resume their qualification campaign against Rwanda on March 19th and face Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on March 22nd.
Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.
English (US) ·