President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the formation of a Presidential Support Group (PSG) to assist the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. This decision comes as the Super Eagles find themselves in a precarious position on the qualification table.
Sources indicate that, due to the team’s current struggles—sitting second from bottom in Group C with just three points from four matches—the President has sanctioned the assembly of knowledgeable and credible Nigerians to help secure a World Cup ticket.
The Super Eagles previously missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after failing to overcome Ghana in the playoffs, marking the second time since 1994 that Nigeria has not participated in the tournament. The first absence occurred in 2005, when Angola denied Nigeria a spot for the 2006 World Cup in Germany based on a head-to-head rule.
There are growing concerns that, without urgent action, Nigeria may lose its chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup to teams like Rwanda, South Africa, or Benin Republic, all of whom currently have seven points.
In light of this, the President has reportedly approved a high-powered PSG, set to be led by an influential governor from the South-West. “The President has given the go-ahead for a Support Group of eminent Nigerians to be established to assist the NFF with the 2026 World Cup project,” a source shared.
The committee will include the NFF president to ensure collaboration, emphasizing that this is a collective effort to prevent further sporting disappointments.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles, still without a substantive coach, are set to resume their World Cup qualifiers in March against Rwanda, who previously stunned them at home in their last match during the 2025 AFCON.
