Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes have improved after CAF revised its rules to exclude results against bottom-ranked teams following Eritrea’s withdrawal.
Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have received a major boost following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to revise the qualification rules after Eritrea withdrew from the competition.
Eritrea’s exit left Group E with only five teams, prompting CAF and FIFA to adjust how points are compared among runners-up. In a circular dated March 14, 2025, and signed by CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events, Samson Adamu, the body announced that results against bottom-placed teams would no longer count when ranking second-placed nations.
The decision, aligned with Article 11.5 of FIFA’s preliminary competition regulations, ensures fairness in determining Africa’s four best runners-up. The adjustment could hurt teams like Burkina Faso and DR Congo but favours Nigeria, which could move higher in the standings.
With upcoming matches against Lesotho and Benin, the Super Eagles now have renewed hope of securing a place in the 2026 World Cup playoffs.