Basketmouth has backed Super Eagles to qualify for World Cup. Popular Nigerian comedian and actor Bright Okpocha, better known as Basketmouth, has expressed strong belief in the ability of the Super Eagles to bounce back and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but emphasised the need for team cohesion and consistent preparation. In an interview with The Punch, Basketmouth praised the individual talents in the current squad, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and others, but stressed that talent alone is not enough without teamwork and regular joint training. “I actually think so. It’s been a while, there was a decline at some point. And after the Africa Cup of Nations we won in 2013, there was a big decline,” Basketmouth said. The comedian, known globally for his stand-up specials like Basketmouth Uncensored, made a compelling case for early preparation and unity among players drawn from various leagues and backgrounds. He said, “Sometimes it’s not just about the players, it’s about how well you guys do together, how often you train together. You can’t just assemble players from different areas, different leagues, different clubs, different regions and expect them to go and win against people that have been training together for years.” He likened effective football to the precision of well-timed passes and mutual understanding on the pitch — qualities he believes the current team lacks due to inadequate time spent playing together. He said, “I think we have some of the best players in the world, but we don’t just utilise them well enough. I believe that if the players will be selfless enough to ignore any kind of condition they find themselves and just go for the win, they can win the next AFCON and the World Cup, both of them. “You can have the 11 best players in the world, but if they don’t train together, and you put them together, they will lose. If you look at our players, the time of Sunday Oliseh, when we won the Olympics in 1996… That was the team, the dream team. We need a team like that again.” He concluded by urging unity and national support, noting that the Super Eagles enjoy unrivalled fan backing. “With the excitement, the energy, the support, we will win,” he said with conviction. The Super Eagles secured the Unity Cup title Saturday, defeating Jamaica 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at London's Gtech Community Stadium.