The Super Eagles stormed into the final of the 2026 World Cup playoff after a commanding 4–1 victory over Gabon on Thursday in Morocco, setting up a decisive clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.
Head coach Eric Chelle expressed pride in his team’s performance but stressed that their mission is far from complete. A brace from Victor Osimhen and a goal each from Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke secured the win for Nigeria.
The game went into extra-time, during which the Eagles scored three more goals after Adams had given the three-time African champions the lead in the 78th minute. A delighted Chelle hailed the players’ commitment and mentality, noting that their passion made the difference in the crucial encounter.
“So I’m very proud of these guys because every time they are focused on what I’m asked, what I want, that is sure what I want,” he said after the match.
“So once again, the world today was the passion. And during the speech, it was the passion. It was the work together and to have the same thing. So they did it, but the reality is nothing because we have game two in two days. So maybe after the second game, we are gonna smile.”
Despite the impressive scoreline, the coach emphasized that he is not interested in dwelling on past results. Instead, the focus remains on continuous improvement and execution.
“I don’t want to talk about what happened before since I come. We try to work. We try to prove it. We talk about every, the game of project,” he stated.
Chelle went on to highlight the importance of developing a clear style and direction for the national team. “The the sport project, sorry, the sport, yeah, the sport project is very important. The game project too. And like I said, the most important thing for a team is to create an identity. And the identity is how you play defense and how you play in offense,” he explained.
According to him, every international window presents challenges, especially with limited training time and player availability. Still, he believes the current squad is showing tangible progress. “So this is why we try every time at every FIFA window, but, you know, when you play FIFA window, sometimes and many times, you have only maybe two or three training sessions.”
He praised the players for adapting quickly and embracing his philosophy: “So now this group, these guys, they improve mentally, technically, and they understand what I want to do for them,” he added.
With the victory over Gabon secured, the Eagles now turn their sights to Sunday’s final—one last hurdle in their quest to seal their place in the inter-continental playoffs. Chelle made it clear that the job is not done yet, and the players know it too.
