Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle, has expressed a mix of optimism and concern after the 2025 Unity Cup final, emphasising that Nigeria must significantly improve to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in the USA.
“We need to improve, we need to step up in our group, in our team
“To go to the World Cup, we need to step up. I can say my players have a good spirit, a good state of mind, I’m happy about that.
‘:We need to work and think about my game project. I think my players were focused on the game, at the end, we deserve to win the tournament, ” he said.
Chelle described the Unity Cup as his first trophy as a coach, despite winning several as a player.
He hoped this victory marked the beginning of a trophy-laden era for Nigeria.
The Super Eagles currently sit fourth in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers with seven points after six games.
To qualify, they need to win all their remaining games and hope other teams do their bidding.
Their fixtures include matches against Rwanda, South Africa, Benin, and Lesotho.
Former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh believed failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup would be a disaster for Nigeria.
“Africa could be represented by as many as 10 countries at the next World Cup, we’re at the risk of not being one of these countries, and it will be a disaster if Nigeria does not qualify,” Oliseh said.
The road to the 2026 World Cup remained challenging for the Super Eagles, but maintaining focus and determination would be crucial to securing a place on football’s biggest stage.
