Wilfred Ndidi: Nigeria can't afford to miss the 2026 World Cup

The West African team failed to qualify for the previous World Cup, hosted in Qatar.

They were knocked out after enduring a disappointing loss on aggregate to their eternal rivals, the Black Stars of Ghana, in the playoff round.

Under the guidance of coach Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles are now gearing up to confront formidable competition in the World Cup qualifiers. They find themselves placed in the same group as South Africa, Benin Republic, Rwanda, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.

Following Nigeria's resounding victory against Sao Tome and Principe, Ndidi addressed reporters, underscoring the significance of the win as a morale booster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

He openly acknowledged the disappointment of missing out on the last World Cup and conveyed his steadfast commitment to ensuring Nigeria's success this time around.

"It was painful not to play at the last World Cup in Qatar. The fans were really disappointed in us, and we can't afford to fail them again," said Ndidi.

"We just have to keep working hard as a team, and hopefully, things will be in our favour."

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