Alex Iwobi in action for Nigeria at AFCON 2025 in Morocco
AFCON 2025 playmaker Alex Iwobi has revealed that Nigeria’s Super Eagles are currently living in a state of anxious anticipation as they await a possible lifeline to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Fulham midfielder admitted that while the pain of missing out on football’s biggest stage still lingers, hope remains — even if it now rests in the hands of FIFA.
Speaking on the emotional aftermath of Nigeria’s failed qualification campaign, Iwobi was posed a tough hypothetical question:
Would he rather win the AFCON 2025 trophy or secure qualification for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico?
For the 29-year-old, who represented Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the answer went beyond personal ambition.
“I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.
It’s a great legacy, a great thing to have in your career, a memorable moment.
But because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say, ‘I want to go to the World Cup.’
So I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates not to go to the World Cup. It’s a tough one.”
The comments perfectly capture the dilemma facing Nigeria’s current crop — balancing continental glory with the ultimate global dream.
Iwobi’s cautious optimism mirrors the atmosphere within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Despite a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in November, Nigeria’s World Cup dream may not yet be over.
The NFF has formally submitted a petition to FIFA, alleging that DR Congo fielded up to six ineligible players during the decisive play-off.
At the heart of the dispute is what has been described as a “dual nationality trap.”
While FIFA regulations permit players to switch national allegiance under certain conditions, DR Congo’s own constitution explicitly forbids dual citizenship.
The NFF argues that FIFA was misled during the clearance process.
NFF General Secretary Dr. Sanusi Mohammed remains confident in Nigeria’s case:
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality. FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible.
But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”
If upheld, the ruling could dramatically alter Nigeria’s qualification fate.
Fresh from securing bronze at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, the Super Eagles are widely regarded as one of Africa’s most talented squads.
Led by experienced figures like Alex Iwobi, and supported by a new wave of elite performers across Europe, many believe this generation deserves a place at the expanded 48-team World Cup.
For veterans like Iwobi, the stakes are deeply personal — not for themselves, but for teammates yet to experience football’s grandest stage.
As Nigerian football authorities await FIFA’s verdict in Zurich, the players, coaches, and millions of fans remain united in hope.
Because for the Super Eagles, the dream isn’t over — it’s just on hold.
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