Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has stressed that Nigeria must beat South Africa to keep their hopes alive for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles are currently trailing in Group C, sitting six points behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, who lead the table with 13 points after six matches.
The crucial match is scheduled for September, with South Africa hosting Nigeria in a matchday eight encounter. With only four matches remaining in the qualification series, Chelle acknowledges that the team must secure victories in all their remaining games to qualify.
“It is a must-win match for us in South Africa, but right now, our focus is on beating Rwanda in Uyo,” Chelle told SCORENigeria. “South Africa have a strong team, but we must not allow them to dominate the game.”
Chelle highlighted that while the clash with South Africa is critical, the immediate priority is to secure three points against Rwanda before shifting focus to the away fixture.
As the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup narrows, the Super Eagles must deliver top performances to keep their qualification hopes alive.
