Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and team captain William Troost-Ekong have commended their side’s determination and composure following a tense 2-1 victory against Lesotho in Polokwane, South Africa, on Friday — a win that keeps Nigeria’s hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
Speaking after the game, Chelle reflected on the mounting pressure the team has faced since March, praising the players for pushing through and securing a crucial three points.
“We won the three points today. We are still alive. Journalists can now start doing their mathematics and permutations,” Chelle said with a relieved smile.
He acknowledged the nerves and high stakes that have shadowed recent camps, adding that although several chances went begging in the first half, he remains proud of the squad’s resilience and fighting spirit.
Looking ahead to the decisive final qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo, Chelle made a heartfelt appeal to Nigerian supporters.
“This is the final round. The game starts the moment Benin steps on Nigerian soil. We need to do the job on the pitch,” he stated.
Captain William Troost-Ekong echoed Chelle’s sentiments, describing the clash with Lesotho as anything but straightforward.
“Lesotho played a great game. It wasn’t easy. We understand the frustration because they fought hard,” Troost-Ekong noted.
The centre-back underlined the team’s focus on finishing strong in Uyo.
“We want to win convincingly in Uyo. This is the final moment, and we will work hard to get there,” he assured.
As things stand in Group C, Nigeria sits third with 14 points. Benin Republic leads the group with 17, while South Africa holds second place with 15. Rwanda follows with 11, Lesotho with 9, and Zimbabwe trails with 5.
To qualify directly for the World Cup, Nigeria must defeat Benin convincingly on October 14 and hope South Africa drops points when they face Rwanda in Durban.
A 2-0 win over Benin would see Nigeria level with the group leaders on points but edge ahead on goal difference.
However, a narrower 2-1 victory could leave the final outcome dependent on tiebreakers.
Group C Standings After Matchday 9:
Pos. Country Pts GF GA GD
1st Benin Republic 17 12 7 +5
2nd South Africa 15 12 9 +3
3rd Nigeria 14 11 8 +3
4th Rwanda 11 5 6 -1
5th Lesotho 9 8 12 -4
6th Zimbabwe 5 5 11 -6
(Report by the News Agency of Nigeria)
