Nigeria's 2026 World Cup Absence: What Happened?

Nigeria, the three-time African champions, will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a disappointing qualifying campaign. The Super Eagles struggled in a tough CAF group stage featuring Cameroon and Algeria, finishing third. Despite a star-studded lineup led by Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, inconsistency in key fixtures—including a 2-1 loss to Algeria and a draw with Benin—left them short. The expanded 48-team tournament offered a second chance via knockout playoffs, but Nigeria fell to arc...