Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has acknowledged his team’s mistakes but insists they were the dominant side on the pitch.
This follows Nigeria’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe, a result that further dents their World Cup qualification hopes. The Super Eagles now sit fourth in Group C with just seven points—six behind group leaders South Africa.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Chelle said, “We made some mistakes, but we were the better team on the pitch. This is football. It’s difficult to analyze the game right now; we will review it later.”
Nigeria initially took the lead and pushed for a second goal but failed to capitalize on their chances, allowing Zimbabwe to secure a crucial equalizer. Despite defensive lapses, Chelle refrained from singling out his back line for criticism.
“I don’t want to blame the defenders,” he stated, emphasizing that the entire team shared responsibility for the outcome.
With their qualification hopes now hanging by a thread, the Super Eagles will need a remarkable turnaround in their remaining fixtures to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive.
