Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Idah Peterside, has identified the draws against Zimbabwe and Lesotho as the key matches that cost Nigeria an automatic spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During an appearance on Soccer Beat, Peterside expressed his frustration, emphasizing that the team’s inability to secure wins in those specific games led to their current predicament. “We played draw, you can’t draw with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in Uyo, Nigeria,” Peterside stated, highlighting the home ground disadvantage in those matches.
As a result of these results, the Super Eagles must now face Gabon in a playoff match in November, with the winner advancing to the FIFA Play-offs in March 2026. Peterside’s analysis reflects a widespread sentiment among fans and analysts who believe the team’s early inconsistency has costly consequences.
Peterside also contrasted the recent strong performance against Benin with the earlier struggles. “Imagine if Nigeria had taken this form against Benin earlier in the qualifiers,” he remarked, suggesting that consistent performance could have altered their qualification path.
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