Despite suffering a fresh setback in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in Tuesday, Super Eagles duo Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina remain confident the three time African champions will qualify for the tournament.
The Eagles flattered to deceive on Tuesday after they drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.
A diving header from Victor Osimhen had put the Super Eagles on the brink of a second successive victory, but Tawanda Chirewa scored in stoppage time to earn his side a point from the close range when he poked the ball past Stanley Nwabali in the 90th minute.
The stalemate was the third recorded by the Super Eagles so far in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
After six rounds of the 10-match group campaign Nigeria have slipped to six points behind leaders South Africa, who secured a 2-0 away win against Benin through efforts from Burnley striker Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams.
With the Super Eagles on the cusp of missing consecutive World Cup editions, duo took to their respective Snapchat handles to share their optimism.
Alex Iwobi posted; “We’ll make World Cup in the mighty name of Jesus.”
Ola Aina also wrote, “We will make the World Cup chill.”
Only Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Troost Ekong among the current squad have played at the World Cup.
Nigeria, who had missed out on the 2022 finals in Qatar, are fourth in the group, a point behind Rwanda and Benin.
Only the nine group winners will qualify for the expanded 48-team tournament next year.
The four best second-placed sides will play off for a spot at an intercontinental tournament which will decide the final spots in the United States, Mexico and Canada.