Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has reiterated his team’s readiness for Friday’s crucial 2026 World Cup Qualifier against the Amavubi of Rwanda, www.aclsports.com reports.
Pre Match presser. Captain @WTroostEkong x Coach Eric Chelle pic.twitter.com/vohCNGAPIt
—Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 20, 2025
The Malian, who was named the head coach of the Super Eagles earlier in the year, will lead the three-time African champions for the first time in a must-win game against Adel Amrouche’s side at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali Rwanda on Friday.
The Super Eagles are looking for their first win in the qualifying series after a winless run in the first four games. Nigeria will put themselves back in contention for the sole automatic ticket to the Mundial in the Americas with a win in Kigali, and Chelle understands the task at hand.
“The camp is good. We need to be focused on our game and our project. Rwanda is a great team, they have a new coach, and they need to win, but we need to win too. We are focusing on our preparations and we will be ready,” the 47-year-old said at the pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Chelle added: “I just want to be with my players, I want my players to focus on this game and after that, we will see the other games. We need to win this game.”
Skipper William Troost-Ekong also shared his thoughts on Chelle’s appointment and the desire to get things back on track following a poor start to the World Qualifiers.
“We have new ideas, and I think whenever you have a new manager for both teams, it is always a situation where players want to prove themselves and show themselves to the coach; they want to give their best side,” the 31-year-old said.
“So, I think there is a new level of focus and we are just trying to understand as quickly as we can in three sessions what is expected from us. It is a work in progress, and hopefully, it will be a continuous growth but this first game will be a test straightaway.”
“I have full confidence in the team, and the team have confidence in the coach and vice versa. So it is just left for us to execute and do the job. Rwanda are ahead in the World Cup qualifications; we can’t change the past, but we have a chance to do better tomorrow,” Ekong concluded.
Earlier on Thursday, Zimbabwe forced Benin Republic to a 2-2 draw in one of the Group C games. The result hands the Super Eagles a great chance to close the gap with leaders Benin with a win on Friday. The game between Nigeria and Rwanda is scheduled to kick off by 5pm (Nigerian time).
