Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peterside Idah has expressed confidence that Nigeria will overcome Gabon in Thursday’s 2026 World Cup play-off. The crucial match will take place at Stade Prince Héritier Moulay Hassan in Rabat at 17:00 local time.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, Peterside highlighted Nigeria’s historical advantage over Gabon. “Over the last 41 years, we have faced Gabon, and they have beaten us only once. Naturally, we should win. We are Nigerians, and we have the potential to succeed,” he said. Peterside, who played for Enugu Rangers, emphasized that despite recent disputes over unpaid bonuses, the Super Eagles remain strong contenders.
Peterside, now a pastor, expressed excitement about Nigeria potentially qualifying for the World Cup. “I want Nigeria to qualify. I even have my passport ready to travel to the Americas to watch the World Cup,” he added.
The match comes after Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) resolved a long-standing financial dispute that saw players boycott training on Tuesday. Coach Eric Chelle confirmed that the Super Eagles resumed training at 5 pm after resolving the payment issues. Similarly, captain William Troost-Ekong took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce, “Issue RESOLVED. Outstanding financials cleared. Team is UNITED and focused on representing NIGERIA.”
Despite the resolution, Peterside criticized the NFF for allowing the conflict to escalate. “Football is about the players, not the management. If the players are unhappy, performance suffers. The payment row was unfortunate and came as a surprise,” he said.
As Nigeria prepares to face Gabon, Peterside’s confidence reflects a shared hope among fans that the Super Eagles will secure a place in the 2026 World Cup.
