Amokachi, Yobo back Eagles to qualify for W’Cup

Former national team captains of the Nigeria Super Eagles, Daniel Amokachi and Joseph Yobo are confident that the team will bounce back to winning ways after their poor start in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ahead of their matchday two encounter against Zimbabwe on Sunday in Kigali, Rwanda, the duo who won the AFCON title as a player in 1994 and 2013 expressed confidence in the team’s talent to secure qualification for the 2026 edition of the tournament to be co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.

The AFCON winners also added that Jose Peseiro’s side possess the quality to land a fourth AFCON title.

“A lot of people have been having some doubts about Thursday’s result against Lesotho but football is football,” Amokachi said during a ceremony to unveil the Eagles ‘Let’s Do It Again’ mantra in their bid to win a fourth AFCON title at next year’s edition in Ivory Coast.

“The beautiful thing about football is, as far as you have quality in your team, a good day will definitely come. I’m a huge fan when it comes to this generation.

“When the tough is tough, we strike. That’s what makes us move as a country, country may enter one stage but our determination and courage help us move. Let’s do it again. Let’s do it again.” Yobo said.

Also Read: Nigeria vs Lesotho: We were unlucky – Peseiro

Yobo who led Nigeria to its third AFCON title at the 2013 edition in South Africa also said, “You can have talent, talent push you to a certain level, but teamwork and intelligence makes you win the championship.

“Basically, talent makes you win the game but teamwork and intelligence makes you win the championship.

“We’re talking about championship here not just about one game. I remember the NFF president has spoke about the game on Thursday, that’s just one game, it’s like a marathon.

“It’s a qualifying round, it’s not a knockout game. So what happened yesterday, like he rightly said, I think it was good for the morale of the players to understand that we can’t make any further mistakes from this point but it wasn’t a bad game.”

Peseiro optimistic

Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the game, embattled Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro said the team will bounce back from a disappointing home draw with Lesotho.

“We will respond very well (vs Zimbabwe). Now we have to beat Zimbabwe on Sunday.” Peseiro said.

Defender, Ajayi the unlikely scorer for the Eagles against Lesotho when he headed home a corner to draw Nigeria level also added, “The game against Lesotho is past, we now have to fight to beat Zimbabwe.”

“We prepared for the game as we prepare for every game. I think we’re just unfortunate not to take a few chances, but we’ll learn from this and we’ll definitely come back stronger in the next game.

“We took the game against Lesotho very seriously; we gave our best and didn’t take them lightly,” he said.

Nigeria played out a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Lesotho in their opening match last Thursday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

Their opponent on Sunday (today), Zimbabwe kicked off their quest for a place in the 2026 World Cup on a decent note as they held Rwanda to a goalless draw at Butare’s Huye Stadium.