Former NFF president, Amaju Pinnick has reiterated his claim that the Super Eagles would have qualified for the 2026 World Cup if he were still in charge.
He argues that experience and lessons from previous campaigns would have made the difference, insisting qualification is often decided early by setting the right tone.
“I said so and I don’t have any regret saying it. If I was the president I would have qualified, because I would have learnt on and off the field of play; everything I needed to do,” the former NFF boss said.
Pinnick added that current NFF president, Ibrahim Musa Gusau will benefit from that same learning curve and believes the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2030 World Cup under his leadership.
“Ibrahim – by his grace – he gets re-elected there’s no way – unless Juju dey follow am for head – that he will not qualify Nigeria. He will now know that from the beginning every point counts, and that’s what I would have done because I knew.
Pinnick Compares 2018 to 2026 WCQ
“Look back in 2017 – what group is this one?,” Pinnick continued. “Cameroun had just won the AFCON, Algeria had not lost in 20 games and Zambia also were AFCON winners.”
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“We knew from the beginning, and I told Seyi (Akinwunmi) when we were leaving the hotel in Ndola, we would qualify for the World Cup if we won – our first game – that day, and we beat them (Zambia) 2-1. When Algeria came to Uyo they arrived with a lot of gadgets; equipment, thinking they would intimidate us.
“I said ‘we go win una with all these una thing’ – me I be Warri boy – and really we won that game 3-1. So, what I am trying to say is that Ibrahim will now know that from the beginning this is what he needs to do.”
