NPFL boss Elegbeleye optimistic of Super Eagles’ qualification for 2026 World Cup
Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, believes that Nigeria will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles will compete in the continental playoffs next month in Morocco in hopes of securing their ticket to the USA.
Speaking to SABC Sport, Elegbeleye expressed confidence that the West African team will make it to the world stage and urged both Nigeria and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana to represent the continent well at the tournament.
“Congratulations to South Africa for qualifying for the World Cup; it’s a straight qualification. Again, Nigeria is going to the playoffs, and I can assure you that Nigeria is going to join South Africa. We are definitely going to qualify through the playoffs,” Elegbeleye said.
“I wish Nigeria and South Africa can go very far in the World Cup because it will be a plus for African football when we see ourselves going through the preliminary stage, to the second round, to the quarterfinals, and to the semi-finals. I wish the two countries very well and wish them success when they get there.”
Bafana Bafana qualified after beating Rwanda 3-0, finishing top of Group C with 18 points after FIFA deducted three points from the national team for fielding Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards against Lesotho in March.
Elegbeleye blamed the South African Football Association for the error and expressed hope that the lesson would be learned.
“Again, I hope in the future, South Africa will learn to correct the mistake of using players with two yellow cards. That gave them this last-minute qualification when they should have qualified long ago. But right now, we wish them all the best,” he said.
