Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman has set his focus on securing Nigeria’s spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence despite a challenging qualifying campaign. Nigeria’s road to the tournament has been rocky, with the Super Eagles earning only 3 points from their first 12.
The team, which narrowly missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after losing to Ghana on the away goals rule in the play-offs, has yet to secure a win in the current qualifiers. After a disappointing 2-1 loss to Benin and draws with Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, Nigeria sits fifth in Group C, a position that has raised concerns over their World Cup ambitions.
Speaking to 54footballx, Lookman voiced his determination to help turn things around. “We’ve shown good performances as a team in these AFCON qualifiers, and now we need to do better consistently,” the Atalanta star said. “We’ve won two games and drawn one, so we will continue in this manner and try to win our games. The goal is to qualify for the AFCON and World Cup, so we are looking to do those things.”
A key player for the Super Eagles, Lookman, who recently finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings, remains optimistic about Nigeria’s chances. The Super Eagles have struggled in World Cup qualifiers, with their last win dating back to November 2021 under then-coach Gernot Rohr, now coaching Benin.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the pressure is on for Nigeria to overcome their recent setbacks and revive their campaign for a place on football’s biggest stage.
