Nigeria’s Super Eagles are in a high-stakes position in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as of October 14, 2025. They are competing in Group C of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifiers, which features nine groups of six teams each. The group winner qualifies directly for the expanded 48-team World Cup tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The four best runners-up from the groups advance to a CAF playoff round, with the winner securing an inter-confederation playoff spot (potentially earning a 10th African berth overall).

Nigeria’s campaign has been turbulent—marked by early draws, a loss to Benin, and a recent three-point deduction for South Africa (for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho), which has kept their hopes alive. After a 2-1 win over Lesotho on October 10, they sit third in Group C with 14 points from nine matches (goal difference: +3). Here’s the latest Group C standings (updated post-October 10/11 results)

Standings exclude matches against sixth-placed teams (per CAF’s March 2025 rule adjustment due to Eritrea’s withdrawal in another group). Tiebreakers: 1) Goal difference, 2) Goals scored, 3) Head-to-head, 4) Fair play points.Today’s Decisive Match: Nigeria vs. Benin (October 14, 2025)Time/Location: 5:00 PM WAT (Noon ET / 5:00 PM GMT) at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria.

Key Context: This is Matchday 10—the final group game for all teams, played simultaneously to prevent collusion. Benin leads by three points and two on goal difference, making this a must-win for Nigeria to stay in contention. South Africa hosts Rwanda at the same time.

Team News:Nigeria: Under coach Eric Chelle, expect a 4-2-3-1 formation with Victor Osimhen leading the attack (fresh off a brace vs. Lesotho). Ola Aina is injured; likely lineup: Nwabali; Bassey, Troost-Ekong, Onyemaechi; Ndidi, Iwobi; Simon, Lookman, Osimhen; Arokodare. Ademola Lookman is one yellow from suspension.
Benin: Coached by ex-Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr, they’ll aim to park the bus and counter. Steve Mounié and Jodel Dossou are threats; 14 yellows in the group (risking fair-play tiebreaker).

As of this response (pre-kickoff), the match is underway. Live updates indicate Nigeria leading 2-0 at halftime (goals from Osimhen), putting them on track for a crucial win.Qualification Scenarios for NigeriaNigeria’s destiny is not fully in their hands, but a strong performance today can secure either direct qualification or a strong playoff position. Here’s how they can advance:Direct Qualification (Win Group C):Beat Benin by at least 3 goals (e.g., 3-0 or better) AND South Africa loses or draws vs. Rwanda.This overtakes Benin’s goal difference (+3 to +6 or better) and caps South Africa at 15-17 points.

Beat Benin by 2 goals (e.g., 2-0) AND South Africa loses.Levels points with Benin (17 each) but wins on goal difference/head-to-head; keeps Nigeria ahead of South Africa.

Win by 1 goal or draw vs. Benin: Eliminates direct hopes (Benin qualifies with a draw; South Africa likely tops if they win).

Runner-Up and CAF Playoff Spot (More Realistic Path):Win vs. Benin (any margin) AND South Africa wins vs. Rwanda.Nigeria finishes 2nd with 17 points (ahead of Benin on head-to-head). Even a 1-0 win works here, as it ties Benin on points/goal difference but favors Nigeria on fair play or other tiebreakers.
As a runner-up, Nigeria enters the ranking of the nine second-placed teams. The top four advance to CAF playoffs (seeded by FIFA rankings; Nigeria’s #36 ranking helps).

Draw or Loss vs. Benin: Likely 3rd place (13-14 points), eliminating playoff chances—Rwanda/Lesotho/Zimbabwe can’t catch up, but Nigeria would rank poorly among runners-up.

Best-Case Outcome Today: A 2-0+ win (as halftime suggests) + South Africa draw/loss = Direct qualification. If South Africa wins, Nigeria still gets playoffs and is favored among runners-up due to their ranking.
Worst-Case: Loss or draw = Missing the World Cup for the second straight time (first since 1986).

Broader Context and Odds

Already Qualified from CAF: Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia (5 of 9 spots filled). The other four groups conclude today.

Nigeria’s Strengths: Talented squad (Osimhen, Lookman, Ndidi) and home advantage in Uyo (unbeaten there in qualifiers).

Challenges: Defensive lapses and poor finishing have cost them 8 points from leads. Benin’s organization under Rohr makes them a “giant-killer.”
Historical Note: Nigeria has qualified for six World Cups since 1994 but missed 2022. A playoff spot would echo their 2006 near-miss to Angola.

For live scores and post-match updates, check FIFA.com or CAF’s site. The Super Eagles need firepower today—go Naija! If results go their way, they’ll be in the mix for a seventh World Cup appearance.