Nigerian football icon Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has expressed optimism about the Super Eagles’ chances of securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Super Eagles will take on Gabon in the World Cup playoffs on Thursday at the Hide Moulay Hassan Stadium in Morocco. The victor of the tie will go on to meet either DR Congo or Cameroon for a spot in the intercontinental playoff, which will determine the final qualifiers for the global tournament.

Speaking on The Exchange with Femi Soneye, Okocha shared his belief that Eric Chelle’s team has what it takes to make it through.

“Once there’s a glimmer of hope, I’ll always believe — that’s the beauty of football,” Okocha stated.

“I still have confidence in this team and believe qualifying for the World Cup is possible. We created this situation ourselves, and we’re the only ones who can fix it. From their last performance, you could see their determination to make things right — they’ve restored hope.”