Nigeria’s Road to the World Cup: Form and Sentiment Around All Four Playoff Hopefuls

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

It’s been called a resurrection, and truly, few sporting miracles have matched the dizzying, last-gasp revival that saved Nigeria’s World Cup campaign from oblivion. In a group where the margin for error shrank to nothing, the Super Eagles entered their final qualifier needing not just a win, but a statement—three goals against Benin or bust.

Pressure? Try a nation of 200 million holding its breath, already angsty after not securing an invite to 2022’s epic footballing party after a disastrous away goals defeat to Ghana. The response: a ruthless, four-goal blitz, with Victor Osimhen’s blistering hat trick turning anxiety into an avalanche of celebration, propelling Nigeria into a playoff berth behind South Africa. Out of chaos, order; out of despair, a nation reborn.

Nigeria’s World Cup Hopes

Most of the planet’s big boys have already punched their tickets to next summer’s North American spectacle. Reigning champions Argentina topped South America’s qualifying group, while England became the first European heavyweight to progress after winning the first six of their qualifiers without conceding a single goal. And the betting odds providers consider both to be contenders to leave MetLife Stadium next July with the famous gold trophy in tow.

The latest live betting odds at Bovada currently make Lionel Messi’s champions an 8/1 shot to become the first team in 64 years to successfully defend the trophy. The Three Lions, meanwhile, are a 13/2 second favorite to end 60 years of hurt of their own. But for the Super Eagles, they must now head to Morocco for a four-pronged playoff to then, strangely, secure a spot in the intercontinental playoffs, which will in turn then provide one final route into the World Cup.

Nigeria’s playoff odyssey begins with a semifinal against a snarling Gabon side, flush with underdog bravado. Survive that, and the prize is an even sterner test: a final against the bruised royalty of Cameroon or the volcanic momentum of DR Congo. Only one can advance to the perilous intercontinental playoff, and here is the sentiment surrounding each of them with next month’s showdown looming large on the horizon.

Super Eagles Back From the Brink

After picking up just one win in their opening six qualifiers, including a disastrous away defeat at Benin, it’s a miracle that Nigeria has even made it this far. Just weeks ago, the Super Eagles looked fractured, battered by coaching tumbles and misfiring attacks, and a ticket to North America seemed a distant dream. But then, Victor Osimhen returned from injury and put his nation on his back.

A 2-1 victory in the penultimate game against lowly Lesotho kept hopes alive, but Nigeria still needed to beat Benin by three goals to secure a playoff spot at best. Their talismanic striker understood the stakes and was up to the task, blasting a sensational hat trick before Frank Onyeka completed a 4-0 rout late on.

Under Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles have an identity, as opposed to being a team of individuals: youth electrifies the attack, while experienced heads like captain William Troost-Ekong anchor the collective psyche with a big game experience. With Osimhen leading stars such as Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria will consider themselves the favorites to progress.

Aubameyang’s Last Stand

If Nigeria is a nation reborn, then Gabon is a storybook underdog staring down the giants with a glint in its eye. Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will go down in history as one of Africa’s greatest ever hitmen, but the fact remains that he has never represented his nation on the grandest stage. Now, at the ripe old age of 36, he has his greatest chance yet to achieve that dream.

After winning eight of ten games, the Panthers will be somewhat disappointed to not have secured an automatic qualifying spot. Unfortunately for them, they had arguably Africa’s finest side in their group in the form of the Ivory Coast. The elephants duly won all but one of their games, including a 1-0 victory against Gabon in Korhogo, which ultimately was the decisive moment.

Still, Auba and Co. will head to Morocco dripping with momentum and daring self-belief. But if they are to upset Nigeria in the semifinals, they will have to do so without their iconic captain, who was sent off after netting four goals against Gambia in their final game of the qualifying campaign.

Can Cameroon Scupper Nigerian Hopes

Cameroon is perhaps Nigeria’s biggest threat. Six World Cup appearances, legendary AFCON triumphs, and an identity built on resistance and renewal—the Indomitable Lions refuse to fade. The fairy tale story of Cape Verde denied the Cameroonians direct qualification, and now the pressure is on to secure back-to-back World Cup berths.

The much-maligned André Onana must recapture his razor-sharp reflexes if his side is to progress past DR Congo in the semis, while Vincent Aboubakar’s cold-blooded finishing should guarantee the kind of big-game pedigree no tactician can manufacture. With Manchester United’s Bryan Mbuemo and Napoli’s Frank Anguissa, there is plenty of firepower, but is there enough spark left in the legs of the aforementioned Aboubakar and strike partner Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting to propel them through a grueling playoff campaign?

Destiny Awaits the Sleeping Giant

Every tournament yearns for a dark horse, and in this African playoff, DR Congo roars forward with the force of unleashed potential. They finished as runners-up to heavy-hitting Senegal in Group G, winning all but three games in a campaign punctuated by the goals from the fearsome partnership of Cédric Bakambu and Yoann Wissa.

Those two will certainly terrorize an aging Cameroonian backline in the semifinals, but whether it will be enough to secure victory remains to be seen. Nigeria will then prove an even sterner test, but the Leopards head to Morocco without fear, dreaming of a first World Cup appearance since their sole qualification under the flag of Zaire back in 1974.