Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has urged his team to maintain their concentration ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe, set for Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
“We must be prepared for the next game. My focus is on improving our team rather than pointing out weaknesses,” Chelle said following Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Rwanda in Kigali on Friday.
Chelle, 47, who took charge of the team in January, secured a winning debut as head coach, with Victor Osimhen’s first-half brace ensuring the victory in the Group C match. Despite the success, Chelle stressed the importance of constant progress as the Eagles aim for World Cup qualification after a rocky start to their campaign.
“I’m proud of my players and congratulate them, but we still have work to do. This was just the first game, and while I’m pleased with the win, we must keep improving,” he added.
Throughout the Kigali match, Chelle displayed tactical flexibility, initially deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation with Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi in midfield.
He also featured a frontline of Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, and Osimhen. As the match unfolded, he made key adjustments, bringing on Raphael Onyedika for Chukwueze and later Alhassan Yusuf for the injured Bright Osayi-Samuel.
“We have strengths and weaknesses, and it’s my job to adjust our game plan accordingly,” Chelle said. “I want my players to understand that we can adapt our style of play. Today, we switched between two or three systems.”
Despite limited preparation time, Chelle expressed satisfaction with how quickly his players adjusted to his approach.
“It was a tough game because Rwanda is a strong team with a great coach, but we played well,” he said. “We only had one week and two training sessions, but we shared a lot of information. We had a clear game plan, and the players executed it perfectly. So, I believe this win was well-deserved.”
The victory moved Nigeria to fourth place in Group C with six points from five matches, trailing South Africa (10 points), Benin (eight points), and Rwanda (seven points). With the Zimbabwe match fast approaching, Chelle knows that anything less than a win could severely impact their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
