Super Eagles’ coach, Eric Sekou Chelle has disclosed how much he cherished his side’s 4-1 trouncing of Gabon on Thursday, and declared that he is proud of his players, Sports247 reports.
Chelle was beaming with all smiles after the game in Rabat, Morocco, as the Eagles moved a step closer towards finally picking a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Franco-Malian tactician thanked his players for making it possible.
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Though he acknowledged the team cannot fully celebrate until they win the final on Sunday, against either DR Congo or Cameroon, the former coach of Mali and SC Oran of Algeria said he was happy seeing the Eagles always carry out his gameplan.
Chelle retorted, “I am very proud of these guys, because every time they are focused on what I ask them to do and they do what I want. They always show what I want from them, and they can prove why I believe in them.”
He then looked at basic factors that brought about Thursday’s win in the first semi-final of the 2026 World Cup qualification play-offs and pointed out that passion for victory and cooperation among the lads made a lot of difference against The Panthers of Gabon.
He added, “The difference in this game was the passion these guys had. They had focus, kept the ball together and held the same thinking. We are happy, but we can’t celebrate just yet. Maybe after the second game, we can smile.”
However, the Eagles’ gaffer opted to keep sealed lips on the training boycott that rocked the second day of camping for the team in Rabat, nor would he talk about bonuses that were allegedly being owed the players since 2019, as he would rather focus on the future than think of what has gone by.
“I don’t want to talk about what happened before this match or since I’ve come. All I know is that we are trying to work and create an identity.
“Every time we talk about the game project and the sport project, which is very important. But, the most important thing is for us to create an identity,” Chelle stated.
He concluded with an assurance that he and his players will always work within limited time available to them in camp to build the squad properly in order to keep improving with each passing game.
“Our identity is how we play in defence and move into offence. That is why we try to improve in every FIFA window, though we have only two or three training sessions together.
“Within that time, these boys have improved mentally and technically. They understand what I want to do for them,” Chelle rounded-off gleefully.
