By Korede James
Super Eagles of Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has admitted that his team will have to start looking at finishing second in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifying Group C.
The three-time African champions were held to a 1-1 by Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Uyo, Tawanda Chirewa scoring in the 90th minute to cancel out Victor Osimhen’s 76th minute strike.
After the conclusion of matchday 6, the Super Eagles are fourth on seven points, six behind leaders South Africa, who defeated Benin Republic 2-0 in Abidjan also on Tuesday.
Rwanda are second with eight points, level with third-placed Benin Republic, with Lesotho (six points) and Zimbabwe (four points) fifth and sixth respectively.
“In the first half we had the chance to score 10 goals; Zimbabwe came to defend. My players were the best on the pitch with possession football and fast attacks,” Chelle said in his post-match press conference.
The team that wins the group will proceed to the 2026 World Cup scheduled for the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
The four best runner-up teams from the African qualifying groups will go into a play-off to determine the continent’s representatives in the intercontinental play-offs for additional spots in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Chelle is now pursuing one of those runner-up spots for a circuitous route to the World Cup.
“I’m so disappointed for my players, for the country, and the way things are now we have to start looking at second place,” the former Mali international and head coach said.
“We deserved to win but this is football.
“I think in the last 10 minutes it was hard for us, because we did well in the first half with a lot of intensity. So maybe the players were a little tired.
“We tried to score a lot of goals, after our goal I told my players to try to score another goal, but like I said maybe they were tired.
“We played a diamond formation and created lots of chances to score goals
This system is taxing and involves lots of energy, and this is why we had Ademola (Lookman) on the left and also on the other side.
“After we scored it became difficult for Victor (Osimhen), so I made another change and I didn’t want to put a defender and we can say maybe the choice was not good but if we had won we would say the choice was good.”
