Super Eagle’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have received a massive boost following a recent decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to review the qualification system.
The new development comes after Eritrea officially withdrew from the ongoing World Cup qualifiers, creating an imbalance in Group E, which now has only five teams instead of six.
To ensure fairness, CAF has decided that results obtained against the bottom-placed team in each group will no longer count when determining the best four runners-up across the African continent.
In a circular dated March 14, 2025, and signed by Samson Adamu, CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events, the body explained that, “whenever a group has fewer than five teams due to withdrawal or disqualification, results against the lowest-ranked or withdrawn teams will not be considered when comparing second-placed teams.”
This adjustment, made in line with Article 11.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition regulations, aims to ensure a level playing field for all participating nations.
With this new rule, some top teams like Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Madagascar, and Gabon could lose as many as six points in the revised standings, while Cameroon and Nigeria are expected to benefit.
For Nigeria, the change could not have come at a better time. The Super Eagles, who drew their first two qualifying games and currently sit outside the top position, had earned only two points against bottom-placed Zimbabwe.
Under the new arrangement, those results will no longer count — a major relief for the three-time African champions.
Nonetheless, the Super Eagles will now be hoping to capitalize on this adjustment as they prepare for crucial upcoming fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic.
Victories in those games could place them in a strong position to reach the World Cup playoffs.
