Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba has thrown his support behind the Super Eagles ahead of their 2026 World Cup playoff clash against Gabon national football team, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former Galatasaray forward urged Nigerians to remain patient with the national team ahead of their must-win World Cup play-offs.

Following a 2-1 victory against Lesotho and a dominant 4-0 win over Gernot Rohr's Benin Republic, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions secured a place in the mini-tournament, where they will battle Gabon.

Speaking in a recent interview, the former Chelsea striker addressed the criticism often directed at African teams, particularly after near-successes, using Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON campaign as an example of how quickly public opinion can shift.

“You know, if Nigeria had won the African Cup of Nations, you wouldn’t even be saying that. But that’s football, you know, it doesn’t mean that your team is not good. They were in the final. You were supporting them all through the campaign and then all of a sudden they lose, then finish!” Drogba said.

“They’re so bad, they criticize them from right to left, and it’s always like that in Africa. You finish 2nd, it’s like Chelsea finishing 2nd in the Premier League. Like it doesn’t count.”

Drogba emphasised that reaching the AFCON final was no small feat, and the current generation of Nigerian players deserves credit rather than criticism.

“That’s the level of expectation because you have won before. So I think the team is good. You have Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman — they won the last two Ballon d’Or. I mean, you have a team that can perform, but then you have opposition. You think the other team, because it’s Nigeria, they’re gonna sit like this?”

The Ivorian legend stressed that reputation alone does not win matches and went on to urge the Super Eagles to focus on performance as they prepare for their upcoming World Cup play-off clash against Gabon in November.

“The name is one thing. The most important thing is what’s happening behind. If they haven’t won, they will find ways to solve their problems. I don’t know if they have problems, but I think they are a strong team,” Drogba added.

Importance of Super Eagles' Spot In 2026

The former Chelsea forward revealed that it is a big thing for Africa to have the three-time AFCON champions at the 2026 World Cup.

“It would be nice if they qualify because to have Nigeria in a World Cup is very important for Africa. But if they don’t qualify, the team that would be representing us, we will be proud to support.”

The Super Eagles are set to face Gabon before a potential final clash against the winner of the match between DR Congo and Cameroon, which will determine their path to the 2026 World Cup.