With Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes hanging in the balance, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has urged his team to stay focused ahead of Tuesday’s crucial clash against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Fresh off a 2-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali, secured by a Victor Osimhen first-half brace, Chelle has emphasized the need for continuous improvement as the Eagles fight to secure a spot at the next World Cup.
“We need to be ready for the next game. I prefer to focus on my team rather than discussing weaknesses. My priority is analysing and improving our own play,” Chelle stated.
The 47-year-old Malian, who took charge of the three-time African champions in January, made a winning start to his tenure despite having limited time to implement his tactics.
“We only had one week and two training sessions to prepare, but the players executed the game plan perfectly,” he added.
Super Eagles Players Ready for Battle
Captain William Troost-Ekong and talisman Victor Osimhen have also sent a strong message ahead of the Zimbabwe fixture, vowing to give their all in what they describe as a “must-win war” for Nigeria’s World Cup dreams.
“We read somewhere that the Zimbabweans are being motivated to come to Uyo and get a result. They should forget it. We are hugely motivated by the ambition to play at the FIFA World Cup,” Troost-Ekong declared upon the team’s arrival in Uyo on Saturday.
The defender, who was instrumental in Friday’s win over Rwanda, stressed the squad’s hunger to reach football’s grandest stage.
“Apart from myself, Alex (Iwobi), and maybe a couple of others, most of this generation hasn’t played at the World Cup. We are desperate to qualify, and we will fight with everything we have,” he told thenff.com.
Osimhen echoed his captain’s determination, emphasizing the team’s unwavering commitment.
“We are ready. The remaining matches are wars, and we must fight them with all that we have to win,” the Napoli striker stated.
Chelle: Eagles Must Keep Improving
Despite securing three crucial points against Rwanda, Chelle insists his team still has a lot of work to do to secure qualification.
“I’m proud of my players—congratulations to them. But we have work to do. This was just the first game, and while I’m happy with the win, we must keep improving,” the coach emphasized.
He also highlighted his tactical flexibility, revealing that the team adapted to “two or three different systems” during the match.
“We have a team with strengths and weaknesses, and my job is to shape the game plan accordingly. I want my players to understand that we can play in different ways,” he explained.
Victory Over Zimbabwe Crucial for Nigeria’s Qualification Hopes
The Super Eagles’ win over Rwanda lifted them to fourth in Group C with six points from five matches, trailing South Africa (10 points), Benin (eight points), and Rwanda (seven points).
A victory over Zimbabwe could propel Nigeria into strong contention for the World Cup ticket, particularly if South Africa and Benin drop points in their own clash.
Troost-Ekong remains optimistic about Nigeria’s trajectory under Chelle, describing the team’s performance in Kigali as a statement of intent.
“It was important to make a statement, and we’re all happy with the way we did it. But there’s still a lot of work to do. We have started the recovery in a good way, and now we just have to keep working hard,” he said.
As the Super Eagles prepare for battle in Uyo, one thing is clear: Nigeria is ready to fight for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the team’s leaders, Chelle, Troost-Ekong, and Osimhen are determined to ensure they get there.
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