Super Eagles’ absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has left many Super Eagles faithful wondering how different things might have been, Soccernet.ng reports.
South Africa topped CAF Group C with 18 points to seal an automatic ticket. This left the three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions with, just one point behind on 17, out of a tournament they once dominated with several appearances.
Following the World Cup draw in New York yesterday, several questions have popped up in the Nigerian football community.
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Which group would the Super Eagles have been drawn into if they had qualified?
Super Eagles Would Have Been a Pot 3 Team
Based on the FIFA Men’s World Ranking used for the draw, Nigeria were ranked 38th in the world. This places them firmly in Pot 3 which is the tier reserved for mid-ranked qualifiers.
How the Pots Were Structured
| Pot | Description |
|---|---|
| Pot 1 | Hosts + top-ranked nations |
| Pot 2 | Next highest-ranked teams |
| Pot 3 | Mid-ranked sides (Nigeria’s category) |
| Pot 4 | Lower-ranked teams + play-off winners |
With a ranking of 38th, Nigeria fell into the range typically filled by Pot 3 teams (roughly ranks 25–48).
This means the Super Eagles would have avoided all Pot 3 teams during the draw but could have been placed in any of the 12 groups (A to L).
Why There Was No Fixed Group Waiting for Nigeria
FIFA’s draw system assigns Pot 3 teams randomly across the groups. Because Nigeria did not qualify, their Pot 3 slot was immediately taken by another team during the live process.
In simple terms, there was no predetermined group for Nigeria — they could have been drawn into any group, depending purely on the luck of the draw.
What Could Have Been for the Super Eagles
The Super Eagles might have faced anything from a favourable group to a classic Group of Death with challenging teams spread across the four pots.
But all these possibilities now exist only in theory.
