Nigeria’s national team still carries the weight of their disappointing outing at the 2024 African Nations Championship, where the home-based Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Senegal in their opening game before suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Sudan.
That poor start ended any hopes of progressing beyond the group stage. Before their final match against Congo, head coach Eric Chelle admitted that “mistakes have haunted us.”
The team managed to close with a 2-0 win, but it only served as consolation as they finished third in Group D.
Chelle’s decision to lead the squad at CHAN instead of handing the job to his assistant Daniel Ogunmodede drew criticism.
His tactics also raised doubts, especially his insistence on using a diamond formation without a defensive midfielder.
Many felt those choices only deepened fans’ worries about Nigeria’s readiness for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Sports analyst Ope Adebari pointed out that Chelle’s image among Nigerian fans suffered as a result of the tournament.
He noted that the coach’s poor results, combined with tactical missteps, created fresh uncertainty about the country’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
Now attention has shifted to the qualifiers. Chelle has trimmed down his provisional squad ahead of the crucial games against Rwanda and South Africa.
Big names like Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, and first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali are all on the list. Adebari believes these players form the backbone of the squad, alongside William Troost-Ekong and Alex Iwobi.
Others such as Felix Agu, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Moses Simon, Cyriel Dessers, and Tolu Arokodare will be pushing to make an impact.
The pressure on the team is intense. Nigeria sits six points behind Group C leaders South Africa, and with only one automatic qualification ticket available, the Super Eagles cannot afford another setback.
The memories of missing out on the 2022 World Cup after losing to Ghana in a playoff still haunt both players and fans, making these fixtures even more critical.
According to Adebari, Nigeria needs a convincing win and a clean sheet against Rwanda at the Uyo Township Stadium to boost confidence before heading to Bloemfontein for a decisive clash against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
For Chelle, these games are not just about points, but also about repairing his reputation and restoring belief in Nigeria’s World Cup dream.
