Former Nigeria captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances of securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria meets Gabon on Thursday in a playoff clash at the Hide Moulay Hassan Stadium in Morocco. The winner will go on to face either DR Congo or Cameroon for an inter-continental playoff spot and a chance to qualify for the global showpiece.
Speaking on The Exchange with Femi Soneye, Okocha said he remains optimistic the team can overcome its current situation.
“Once there is a glimmer of hope, of course I will believe, and that is the beauty of football,” he said. “I still trust this team; I still believe it is possible [Nigeria qualify for the World Cup]. We put ourselves in this situation, and we are the only ones who can bring ourselves out of it.
“From their last outing, you could see the desire to correct their mistakes. They’ve given us hope.”
