A Presidential Support Group (PSG) to complement the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in prosecuting the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches has been approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Daily Trust gathered from a reliable source yesterday that owing to the precarious position of the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualification table, the President has given approval for a team of knowledgeable and credible Nigerians to be assembled to assist the NFF in delivering the ticket.
At the moment, the Super Eagles who are yet to taste victory in the qualifiers are second from bottom in Group C with a paltry three points from four matches.
It will also be recalled that Nigeria missed out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after they faltered in the playoff against arch rivals the Black Stars of Ghana.
The failure in 2021 made it the second time since 1994 that Nigeria failed to feature at the mundial.
The first time was in 2005 when they were denied the ticket to Germany 2006 by lowly rated Angola on a head-to-head rule.
Consequently, there is palpable fear that if urgent steps are not taken Nigeria might lose the 2026 World Cup ticket to Rwanda, South Africa or Benin Republic who boast of seven points each.
It is against this background that the President is said to have approved the request for a high powered Presidential Support Group to be headed by an influential governor from the South-west.
The source said: “The President has given the go ahead for a Support Group of eminent Nigerians to be set up to help the NFF with the 2026 World Cup project.
“Already the people with the capacity to carry out the task have been contacted and they are willing to embark on the national assignment.
“The Presidential Support Group won’t contain too many people. And the chairman is someone with the capacity to lead the rescue operation.
“The NFF president is on the committee so no one is usurping him from his position. It is just a collective effort to avert another sporting mishap.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles who are still without a substantive coach will resume their World Cup qualifiers in March against Rwanda who stunned them at home in their final match of the 2025 AFCON.