Eric Chelle says the Super Eagles of Nigeria are “still alive” in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign after grinding out a vital 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Group C on Friday.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was necessary. Goals from captain William Troost-Ekong and debutant Akor Adams kept Nigeria’s qualification hopes alive and ensured the Eagles remain within touching distance of the group leaders, Footballrover reports.
Eric Chelle: “We’ve Got Lots of Pressure”
Speaking after the tense victory, the Super Eagles head coach admitted the result brought relief, but the weight of expectation remains heavy.
”Today we are happy because we won the three points; we are still alive. I’m happy for my players; I want to congratulate them. For us, we’ve been feeling the pressure since March, and when my players come to camp, they feel the pressure because for Nigeria we need to go to the World Cup, so we have lots of pressure, so maybe other teams will have some pressure too.”
The win in Polokwane was a much-needed boost for Nigeria, but the margin for error has vanished as the mood of the nation desperately wants a return to the biggest stage in world football.
Despite the win, the Super Eagles remain third on 14 points, three behind leaders Benin Republic, who edged Rwanda 1–0 in Kigali.
South Africa maintain their second place on 15 points after a goalless draw with Zimbabwe, leaving the top three locked in a tense race for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Chelle Calls for Uyo to Become a Fortress
Looking ahead to Tuesday’s crucial showdown with Benin Republic in Uyo, Chelle issued a rallying cry to Nigerian supporters.
“We need to have our fans behind us to put pressure on Benin. This is the World Cup qualifier, so this game starts when they put their feet in our country. We need to do the job on the pitch.”
It will be a defining night in Uyo — a clash that could either breathe new life into Nigeria’s campaign or end their World Cup dream.
Chelle’s side will need both discipline and desire to finish the job.
Is the qualification still within reach? Obviously, but the Eagles must now turn resilience into momentum.
Chelle’s men have rediscovered a sense of belief, and the coach’s message is clear: this is no time to crumble under pressure.
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