Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has admitted that his team has been under immense pressure to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but remains confident that Nigeria will rise to the occasion in their crucial final qualifier against Benin Republic.
Nigeria boosted their qualification hopes on Friday with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Polokwane, thanks to goals from captain William Troost-Ekong and debutant Akor Adams.
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Nigeria earned their third win in the campaign and it keeps the Super Eagles firmly in contention for a World Cup spot.
The result lifts Nigeria to 14 points, just behind South Africa (15 points) and Benin Republic (17 points), who secured a narrow 1–0 win over Rwanda in Kigali.
Speaking after the game, Chelle expressed pride in his players’ resilience and determination amid growing expectations.
“We’re happy because we got the three points — we’re still alive,” Chelle said. “I’m proud of my players and I want to congratulate them.”
“Since March, we’ve been feeling the pressure because Nigeria must qualify for the World Cup. Hopefully, other teams will start to feel that same pressure too.”
The coach also called on fans to turn out in large numbers when the Super Eagles host Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of home support.
“We need our fans behind us to put pressure on Benin,” he added. “This is World Cup qualification — it starts the moment they arrive in our country. We must finish the job on the pitch.”
Captain William Troost-Ekong also reflected on the tough encounter against Lesotho, acknowledging the team’s mental strength.
“Lesotho gave us a great fight; it wasn’t easy,” he admitted.
“We understand the frustration from fans, but the team showed strong mentality. We’ve been under pressure since the qualifiers began, but our goal remains clear — we want to be at the World Cup.”
Looking ahead to the decisive clash in Uyo, Troost-Ekong remained upbeat.
“We know what’s at stake against Benin. We have to win — and win convincingly. It’s going to be a big test, but the team is ready. We’ve worked hard for this moment, and I’m proud of everyone.”
