Ndidi Warns Super Eagles Must Defeat South Africa and Benin in Qualifiers

• Wilfred Ndidi says Nigeria must win their upcoming World Cup qualifiers
• The Super Eagles will face South Africa and the Benin Republic in June
• Nigeria are third in Group C with two points from two matches played

Wilfred Ndidi has claimed that Nigeria's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin are must-win games for the Super Eagles.

After picking just two points from their opening games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, the three-time African champions run the risk of missing out on football’s biggest competition for the second consecutive tournament.

According to Complete Sports, Ndidi, who serves as the Super Eagles vice-captain, noted that the players are eager to return to winning ways when they tackle Bafana Bafana and the Squirrels in June.

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“Where we are at the moment gives us more pressure, because these games are must-win games. I’m not saying we will win the game but I’m saying they are must-win games.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen but it all bores down to us as a team because we know what is at hand and then we know we have to get as much as we can in these two games just to go up there.”

Nigeria will host Bafana Bafana at the Godswill International Stadium in Uyo on June 7 in their third World Cup qualifying game, before travelling to Ivory Coast to face Benin a few days later.

Onyeka wants a win for Super Eagles

Meanwhile, Brentford midfielder, Frank Onyeka, has also echoed Ndidi’s thoughts and has urged the Super Eagles to go for all three points against South Africa and Benin in next month’s World Cup qualifiers, Daily Post reports.

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The England-based midfielder insisted that it is important for Nigeria to win the two games to keep their dreams of playing at the World Cup alive after a slow start in the qualifiers.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, losing the ticket to arch-rivals Ghana after the Black Stars edged the three-time AFCON champions on the away goals rule.

Finidi promises World Cup ticket

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that newly appointed Nigeria coach, Finidi George, has vowed to qualify the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

In his first address as the permanent head coach, the former Real Betis player outlined his ambitious plans and on top of the list is leading Nigeria back to the biggest football competition in the world.