We are ready for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers — Omeruo

Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo has assured Nigerians that the players are determined to give their all for maximum points when the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resume in June.

He stated this before the team departed from Marrakech, Morrocco yesterday after their friendly matches against Ghana and Mali.

It will be recalled the three-time African champions defeated Ghana 2-1 before losing 2-0 to Mali.

“We went into the match against Mali determined to win, just as we did against Ghana. In the end, they took their chances and we failed to take ours. That’s football. You just have to take the chances that come your way.

“June is only a few weeks away. We are focused on the matches against South Africa and Benin Republic. Many players in the group have not played at the World Cup before and they see this as the big opportunity to be there. We cannot afford to let ourselves and the nation down,” he said.

In the same vein, most of the players have returned to their bases in Europe while the interim Head Coach Finidi George and other technical and administrative staff departed Casablanca aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight to Lagos yesterday night.

Meanwhile, Finidi saw plenty of positives from the Super Eagles friendly games despite the defeat, he believes his side were not outplayed by the Malians

“I think just a few mistakes that cost us the match. It was not a bad game, good intensity, and created a couple of chances we didn’t score. In a game like this, if you don’t score and make some mistakes you will be punished.”

“Not a bad one – we lost one (Mali), but we were not outplayed, so, that’s a good thing. I think in the first game (vs Ghana), we did so well. I would have loved a different result (against Mali) but that is not the case,” the former winger stated in a video shared on X.

Finidi remains in temporary charge while the Nigerian Football Federation searches for a permanent replacement for Jose Peseiro, who departed after AFCON 2023.

Nigeria take on South Africa in Uyo and then confront Benin Republic away from home in the international window of 3-11 June, in the Matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.