Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has stated that it is crucial for his team to secure a victory against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa if they are to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Bafana Bafana will host Nigeria in a Matchday 8 encounter in September.
Hugo Broos’ team currently leads Group C with 13 points after six matches, sitting six points ahead of the Super Eagles, with four rounds of matches remaining in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Chelle acknowledged that the Super Eagles must win all of their remaining matches.
“It’s an obligation for us to win in South Africa, but the most important match for us right now is against Rwanda in Uyo,” Éric Chelle told SCORE Nigeria. “South Africa are a formidable side, but in that game, we cannot afford to let them play.”
“However, we must first focus on beating Rwanda at home before turning our attention to the match in South Africa.”
Meanwhile, the Malian-born football tactician has identified the team’s defence as the primary area that requires strengthening moving forward.
According to a source close to the coach, Chelle is particularly concerned about the defence and is determined to make it more reliable in future matches. The source mentioned that while Chelle is pleased with the attacking options and has some reservations regarding the midfield, the defence remains a significant issue.
“We were disappointed with the outcome of the 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe. Nigeria has plenty of good options in attack and midfield, but the defence provides limited support, and that is where the problem lies.
“Our focus now is to strengthen the team defensively. Chelle must find a solution to that aspect of the team, and I believe he is already working on it.
“Hopefully, he will utilise the friendly matches in June to field some defenders who are relatively new to the team,” he added.
