Nigeria Aims for World Cup Redemption, Sudan Seeks Historic Upset
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Nigeria, which has been underperforming, and Sudan, which is at a disadvantage, will both be highlighted as the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup get underway with two rounds of matches starting on Wednesday.
Positioned to secure top spot in Group C and guarantee automatic qualification, a Nigerian squad featuring the previous two African Footballers of the Year—Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman—are currently sitting in fifth place within their group of six teams.
During a qualification process lasting three years, the Super Eagles tied matches against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa but suffered defeat at the hands of Benin as they aimed for their seventh World Cup appearance.
After coming in second at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Ivory Coast, Nigeria has seen three different managers take charge — local coaches Finidi George and Augustine Eguavoen, followed by Eric Chelle.
After being dismissed from his position due to Mali’s disapp…