The Nigeria Super Eagles’ Coach, Eric Chelle, has admitted that his team was under immense pressure ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
Despite the pressure, the team managed to secure a 2-1 win, ensuring their qualification for the 2026 World Cup to be held in North America.
In a post-match conference, Coach Chelle expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, saying, “Today we are happy because we won.
”We are still alive. I am happy for my players, and I want to congratulate them.”
He acknowledged the pressure the team had been under, stating, “Perhaps we have felt the pressure since March.
”Every time my players, whenever we meet, they tell me they feel the pressure, because for Nigeria, we need to travel and we need to go to the World Cup.”
The team’s defender, William Troost-Ekong, corroborated Coach Chelle’s stance, saying the match against Lesotho was tough.
“I also want to start by saying that Lesotho played a great game, and we knew that from the start. I can understand the disappointment and frustration because they put up a very good fight.”
He added that the team is looking forward to a great outing in the 2026 World Cup.
With this win, Nigeria has taken a significant step towards qualifying for the World Cup.
However, the team still needed to beat Benin Republic to guarantee their spot in the tournament.
The Super Eagles still need to build on this momentum and secure a positive result in their upcoming matches.
Coach Chelle’s comments highlighted the immense pressure the team faces as they strive to qualify for the World Cup.
Despite the challenges, the team remains focused on their goal, and with performances like the one against Lesotho, they are confident of achieving success in the tournament.
