Offs: Samuel Chukwueze, Semi Ajayi and Nigeria embark on the long route to North America

If Nigeria want to return to the FIFA men’s World Cup in 2026, they are going to have to do it the hard way.

The Super Eagles have not reached the football finals since the 2018 edition, failing to qualify last time out for the first time in 16 years. A tumultuous qualifying campaign followed, as more draws than wins saw Nigeria miss out on automatic qualification by one point.

Not all hope is lost, though: as one of the four best group runners-up, the African powerhouses have advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers CAF Play-Offs (13-16 November) in Rabat, Morocco. It is not the final destination, but the chance to take a step closer to the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Samuel Chukwueze is on the verge of his 50th international cap, where he will hope to play a key role in making it through the continental play-offs. “The national team jersey is heavy when you wear it because you represent so many people - it's not your normal clothes,” the winger told Olympics.com at the 2025 Unity Cup.

“It's an honour and a privilege to play for the national team, for this country. It means a lot to me and my family. It's a privilege to be here wearing the jersey, fighting for every moment of it, fighting on and off the pitch. Fighting for the country is the most important thing for me.”

Nigeria will certainly have to fight to earn their place at the top table of global football. They face Gabon in the play-off semi-final on Thursday (13 November) in Rabat, before a potential final against Cameroon or Democratic Republic of the Congo on 16 November.

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Semi Ajayi: “We’re all striving to make sure that we get it”

Nigeria’s rollercoaster World Cup qualifying campaign was overseen by three different managers across 10 matches: José Peseiro, Finidi George and now Éric Chelle.

The former Mali international won four of the six qualifiers; not enough to dethrone South Africa, though sufficient to pip Benin to second spot and the CAF play-offs. His appointment has been key to the resurgence of a team never short of talent.

Victor Osimhen leads the charge, in fine form for Galatasaray and returning after netting a hat-trick in Nigeria’s decisive 4-0 win against Benin in October, while Ademola Lookman is the reigning African footballer of the year.

The backline is just as vital for the three-time Africa Cup of Nations champions – Nigeria had the best defensive record in Group C with eight goals conceded. The collective goal is focused on the World Cup, as defender Semi Ajayi attests to.

Ajayi told Olympics.com in London, “That's a dream that all of us have had as young boys. You always dream of playing the highest level, and the World Cup doesn't really get much higher than that. It'll be a dream come true for a lot of us, and we're all striving to make sure that we get it.”

“For me, the personal goal is to qualify for the World Cup because the last World Cup we missed out,” Chukwueze added. “What's going to make the country [happier] is to know we are coming to America, [Mexico and Canada] to play, to watch our country. Qualifying is our goal for now.”

Currently ranked 41st in the world and fifth in Africa, the expectations of 238 million people weigh heavily on the Super Eagles’ shoulders.

Nigeria’s road to the FIFA World Cup, via Morocco

Nigeria needed a big win on the final matchday against Benin to reach the continental play-offs, and from hereon, the route to 2026 does not ease up. More competition, and teams just as determined to book their spots in North America.

Should Nigeria beat Gabon and triumph in the subsequent CAF play-off final three days later, they will advance to the six-team FIFA Play-Off Tournament in March 2026.

They would likely be seeded (reserved for the two-highest ranked teams), skip the semi-finals and advance to the finals, where the winners of the two final matches qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

Pressure there may be, though Chukwueze is full of belief. It has been a season of limited gametime, having made one appearance for Italian giants Milan before being sent on loan to English Premier League side Fulham, making five substitute cameos. Now the aim turns to delivering for his nation and moving closer to the World Cup.

The 26-year-old said of the transition between club and international football, “It's not actually difficult, because when you play in your club and you come to your country, you're so happy to play for your country.

“There are so many people that want to be where you are, because Nigeria have so many fantastic players playing around the whole world. So if they call upon you, that shows that you have been working hard. You have to fight for every moment, you have to show them why you deserve to be there.”

It is by no means an easy path – another four matches potentially lie in store for Chelle’s side – yet it is one that the African giants cannot miss out on, at the risk of consecutive absences from the football finals. All attention turns to Rabat, where one nation will move within touching distance of the FIFA World Cup.

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