An African football chief has expressed confidence in his nation's ability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that the days of merely participating in major competitions are gone.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, has assured fans of a promising year ahead, with Nigeria's national teams set to deliver top performances across multiple tournaments.
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The NFF boss highlighted the federation's commitment to preparing teams well in advance, aiming to ensure Nigeria not only competes but also contends for honours.
"The era of Nigerian teams arriving at major championships just to participate is gone," Gusau said per Soccernet.ng.
"Our objective now is to make sure our teams are strong contenders for titles anywhere. This can only happen with proper preparation before qualifiers and competitions."
Reflecting on the Super Eagles' journey in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, Gusau expressed his desire to replicate the success of the squad that just fell short of lifting the trophy.
"If we can rebuild that squad and focus on the six remaining World Cup qualifiers, I'm confident we can secure automatic qualification for the FIFA World Cup," he stated.
Gusau also highlighted plans for the Super Falcons, stressing the importance of blending experienced players with younger talents to form a formidable team capable of dominating the continent.
"We are organising more friendlies for the Super Falcons to ensure proper team cohesion and prepare them for a successful outing at the AFCON in Morocco," he said.
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The NFF president added that the federation is committed to working closely with the National Sports Commission and seeking greater corporate support to achieve their ambitious goals.