Super Eagles’ technical adviser, Eric Chelle refused to throw in the towel during his pre-match comments ahead of the Nigerian national team’s clash with Rwanda, pleading instead that football fans should continue supporting his team all the way.
Sports247 reports that the Eagles entered the game at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo nine points behind top placed South Africa, who defeated Lesotho 3-0 on Friday, but Chelle opined that the race is not over and begged Nigerians to keep believing in his team’s chances of qualifying ahead of Bafana Bafana.
Read Also: Ademola Lookman Receives Immense Backing From His Colleagues In Super Eagles
The Franco-Malian tactician declared with carefully chosen words, “This game is a crucial one, and it’s important for us to win it. We want the fans to just keep believing and support us.
“We are ready with our game plan. The only thing for us is to win that game. This is my responsibility, and it’s my job for the country, for the team and the supporters.”
Sports247 adds that not only must Nigeria defeat Rwanda on Saturday in Uyo, they also have to beat South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday in order to move just three points behind the group leaders.
Both sides could then fall level on 13 points each should FIFA go ahead with a much expected deduction of three slots from South Africa’s haul due to their use of an inelligible player in their first match with Lesotho.
Should that come to pass, the Eagles would qualify ahead of South Africa on head-to-head rule if both teams go on to win their last two games of the qualifiers in October, even if they finish level on 19 points each.
At that point, Nigeria will first play away to Lesotho in Bloemfontein, then host equally ambitious and current second placed Benin Republic in their final fixture of the feisty qualification campaign, thereby leaving all hearts thumping until the very last whistle of the race.
