Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has rejected claims that Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs was down to luck, insisting that his team’s progress was the result of months of hard work and commitment, Footynaija.com reports.
Nigeria sealed their playoff spot after finishing as one of the four best runners-up in the African qualifiers, following a commanding 4-0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo on 14 October.
It was a tense campaign for the three-time African champions, who had dropped valuable points earlier in the qualifiers and were once thought to need “a miracle” to stay in contention. Many had written the team off before the final rounds, but the big win in Uyo, combined with favourable results elsewhere, lifted them into the playoff frame.
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Speaking after the qualification was confirmed, Chelle dismissed suggestions that fortune played a part in his side’s progress.
“This isn’t luck. When I took this job with my technical staff, we did not come to sit down. We came to work and gave everything for this team and for this country. We have done great work in these past ten months, and this is down to the work we have put in,” he said in a report by ACLSports.
“I’ve always known that we have a chance to reach the playoffs. This is why every time, I’m focused on the pitch. The reality is we will continue to work, with our energy and state of mind. We want to go to the World Cup,” the Franco-Malian added.
Nigeria’s journey to the playoffs was far from straightforward. Draws and missed chances early in the campaign had left the team playing catch-up, sparking widespread criticism from former players and fans.
But the side has shown improvement under Chelle, with back-to-back wins against Lesotho and Benin restoring confidence in the camp.
