In the immediate aftermath of Nigeria national football team’s emphatic 4–0 demolition of Benin national football team, head coach Eric Chelle was a picture of pride and realism.
The victory, their most convincing performance in the qualifiers so far, came too late to snatch the group’s automatic World Cup ticket after South Africa national football team secured top spot with a 3–0 win over Rwanda national football team.
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Nigeria must now navigate the unforgiving playoff path to keep their dream of playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
“I am so proud of my players. They deserve this game. Because it was not easy with the new coach, with the new philosophy, to react immediately faster. So now we go to Morocco,” Chelle told journalists post-match.
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“This is not finished, this is the beginning. It will be very, very, very difficult. So tonight I’m just happy for my players. They played a great game. Especially the best striker in the world. And all the players, they gave everything. For me, for sure, they are my champions.”
Chelle’s rallying cry
Chelle, who only recently took charge of the team, has steadied the ship after a turbulent qualification campaign marked by inconsistent results and intense scrutiny.
“The football is like that. Sometimes you make a mistake, you are lost. But they like the country, Nigeria. They give everything. If we win, this is together. If we lose, if we die, this is together,” he said.
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“I am so proud of my players. I am so proud of my country. This is not finished. So thank you very much for everything. And now we have a lot of work to do.”
For Nigeria, “a lot of work” means a two-step playoff battle in Morocco to keep their 2026 hopes intact. One slip, and qualification, already hanging by a thread, could be gone.
Troost-Ekong hits back at Critics
The night also belonged to captain William Troost-Ekong, who used the post-match press conference to address the criticism that has dogged both him and the team in recent months; from on-pitch errors to off-field social media habits.
“Thank you everyone. I was looking forward to this press conference after the first game. I want to start by asking everyone to put their hands together for this coach,” he began.
“I am so, so proud to be a Super Eagle. I am so, so proud to be part of this team, part of this family. There’s always so much to be said about this team. I know that it comes from a place of love. Everyone loves the Super Eagles. Everyone wants Nigeria to do well.”
Troost-Ekong stressed that players deserve room to express themselves, pointing out that football culture has evolved over the years.
“The guys enjoy themselves. They don’t behave any different than when they are at the club. They are performing. Everyone loves them there. It is time that we continue to support this team,” he said.
From criticism to leadership
Troost-Ekong has endured a rocky qualifying campaign, from the costly equalizer conceded against Zimbabwe national football team to an own goal in South Africa, but his response was emblematic of leadership. He stepped up to score a crucial penalty against Lesotho national football team and led by example against Benin.
“It’s not easy to wear this shirt. It’s very heavy. It’s not easy to perform and make everyone happy, but we’re all trying. One thing that we can always say about this team is that we always give everything,” he said.
“Frank Onyeka comes on and scores the fourth goal. You can talk about Victor Osimhen, who deserves all the praise he gets. But this shows what the team is about, competition, contribution, and commitment.”
He also reminded the press of the context often forgotten by critics.
“We had four different coaches in these qualifiers. There’s been so much change within this team, but the boys are trying. It’s not easy when we’re together only for six, seven days with two games across Africa. But the more time we spend together, the more we’ll improve.”
Pressure and Pride
Facing a question on how the team handled pressure, Troost-Ekong was direct:
“We’ve been under pressure from the start. That’s a reality. But the boys are now learning to cope with that pressure. It’s not been easy. If we could score four goals every game, then we’d sign for that right now. We have amazing players. Everyone is working. We just need everyone else to also believe in us now.”
The victory over Benin was more than just three points. It was a statement, that this generation of Super Eagles still believes.
READ ALSO: Tinubu rallies Super Eagles to soar into 2026 World Cup
The bigger picture
Nigeria’s failure to secure top spot means they must now survive the high-stakes CAF playoff to keep their World Cup dream alive. Historically, the Super Eagles have reached six World Cups since 1994, missing out only twice.
But this journey has been anything but smooth. Four different coaches in one qualifying campaign, inconsistent performances, and intense public pressure have shaped a challenging road to 2026. Now, all eyes turn to Morocco.
For Chelle, Troost-Ekong, and the team, the message is clear: the real battle begins now.
“This is not finished,” Chelle reminded the nation. “It’s just the beginning.”
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