Nigerian football legend Sylvanus Okpala believes the Super Eagles would have sealed automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if Augustine Eguavoen had remained in charge.
Nigeria narrowly missed out on a direct ticket to the global showpiece after finishing second in Group C, behind South Africa, led by Eric Chelle.
The Super Eagles endured an inconsistent qualifying campaign, registering four wins, five draws, and one defeat, a run that forced them into the upcoming CAF playoff tournament, where they will battle Cameroon, Gabon, and DR Congo for a place at the World Cup.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s campaign, Okpala—himself a former Super Eagles captain—insisted that the decision to dismiss Eguavoen was a costly mistake.
“Eguavoen stabilised the team after he took over from Finidi, and he would have qualified us for the World Cup by winning the remaining six qualifiers,” Okpala said, per Score Nigeria.
He further revealed that he had offered to assist Eguavoen in the same capacity he did under the late Stephen Keshi, when Nigeria clinched the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
“I proposed that I assist him, just like I did for Stephen Keshi, and we won the 2013 AFCON.
“I also asked that I should not be paid any salary, but a qualification bonus when we would have reached the World Cup.”
