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When Eric Chelle was appointed early in 2025 as Nigeria’s head coach, I referenced in my well-crafted piece that he posed the demeanor of an individual who could handle pressure, evident in his decision to take on the job, given the precarious position the team was at the time.
He came in with the mandate to reinvigorate a squad that had underwhelmed in previous campaigns and was already playing catch-up. The Super Eagles’ qualification campaign didn’t begin in fine fashion; instead, it unfolded like the tale of a once-glorious bird struggling to flap its wings again.
Chelle’s job was not just to pick line-ups and tactics, but to revive confidence on and off the pitch, while he finds ways to make Nigeria’s best players function as a coherent unit.
The quality of the playing personnel was never in doubt as on any Super Eagles roster you’ll find a mix: the household names, the stalwarts, the youngsters fighting for a breakthrough, and those who simply do the gritty work off the ball.
In some matches, the team had to cope with injuries or suspensions. For instance, Victor Osimhen was ruled out of a crucial qualifier against South Africa with a foot problem. His absence magnified how central he is to the team’s attacking identity.
At moments, Nigeria found themselves chasing the group. They were behind Benin and South Africa in Group C, watching as their ‘rivals’ collected key points. There were matches where the Eagles failed to seize momentum, and were punished. Yet, there were also flashes of brilliance.
The final match of the group saw Nigeria deliver one of those performances you dream of in pressure situations, a 4–0 demolition of Benin in Uyo. Victor Osimhen was electric, firing a hat-trick in a night that felt like redemption. It wasn’t the sweet homecoming former manager Gernot Rohr might have hoped for; his Squirrels ran into a Super Eagles side that finally looked every inch a World Cup-bound team.
The timing was perfect: Nigeria needed not just a win, but a convincing one, to satisfy the permutations. Yet, even after that emphatic display, the Super Eagles fell short of automatic qualification, that honor went to South Africa, who sealed top spot with a commanding 3–0 victory over Rwanda.
Still, fortune smiled on Nigeria. Thanks to their superior goal difference, they squeezed into the CAF playoffs as one of the best runners-up. And amid the celebrations, one name stood out – Frank Onyeka, whose late goal ensured the story ended not in despair, but in hope.
Now comes the play-off phase – a do-or-die, knockout territory for everyone involved. The Super Eagles are set to face Gabon in the semi-finals on 13 November, while Cameroon meet DR Congo in the other fixture. The winners will clash for the right to represent CAF at the intercontinental play-off.
That’s the path now: no room for mistakes, no margin for error, a reality captain William Troost-Ekong knows all too well.
He said: “We are quite happy to have that opportunity (the playoffs). It is a long route but it is a route afterall. We would have loved to get the automatic ticket but it didn’t happen and we take what we have. For us, we will remain strong and tough and ready to confront every challenge on our way as we search for the ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“It was a wonderful team effort on Tuesday evening. Everyone contributed; each person played their part. If the other match had gone in favour, we would be with the automatic ticket now. But that’s life. You take what you get and run with it, and make the best of it.”
How can the Super Eagles still reach the World Cup?! ?
— Bet9ja: The home of #betBOOM! ? (@Bet9jaOfficial) October 15, 2025
It’s true that a tree doesn’t make a forest, but if the Eagles are to have any chance in the play-offs, Osimhen must be fit for every match. His goals were more than just numbers on a scoresheet, they were a statement: when the chips are down, he rises. And rise he did.
Through every twist, the Nigerian fans have been the unseen heartbeat of this campaign. Across all platforms, the Eagles’ journey has been debated, dissected, critiqued, and celebrated. When results lagged, voices grew loud; when hope dimmed, prayers swelled.
When Osimhen scored that first goal only minutes in, the stadium likely erupted. When Onyeka’s late effort went in the emotions overflowed.
This story is far from finished. The chapters ahead matter even more. The playoff phase is brutal — one misstep, one off night, one lapse in concentration, and the dream ends. The Eagles will need discipline, belief, smart tactics, and perhaps a touch of luck.
But the 2026 World Cup is still within reach.
