World Cup qualifiers: Chelle targets four best losers’ slot after slump in Bloemfontein…Nigerian fans give up

By Ben Efe 10.9.2025
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has acknowledged that his team is in a difficult position after Nigeria failed to beat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their group C World Cup qualifier Tuesday at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The Super Eagles have dropped to the 3rd place on the group C log with 11 points. With their 4-0 thumping of Lesotho Benin Cheetahs are second with 14 points while South Africa’s Bafana Bafana have destiny in their own hands with 17 points.
For the struggling Nigeria team to have a chance, they need to win their two remaining games against Lesotho away and Benin at home and hope other results go their way, to get a playoff opportunity if they finish among the best four second placed teams.
According to coach Chelle whose ability to handle the Super Eagles have remained a topic of debate for Nigerian fans, all hope is not lost, adding that the Super Eagles had to dig deep to get the result they need to qualify for the World Cup, even as some Nigerian fans have given up on the team’s chances.
So far in the ranking of the best four second placed finishers, Nigeria is 8th with 11 points. Gabon with 18 points top the chart, Madagascar 16 points, DR Congo 16 and Burkina Faso 15 points, make up the top four.
“This moment is a difficult moment for us,” Chelle noted.
“But we are professionals, and these players want to win. In two months, we have the last two games.
“There is power in this Nigeria team. We have started to build something, and people need to understand quickly that it’s a project and we will continue to work on it.”
Also, former Super Eagles midfielder Friday Ekpo expressed optimism the Super Eagles can still make it.
“The most important thing at the moment is for the team to win their remaining two games and hope other countries from other groups fail to get higher points.
“So, I still believe that the Super Eagles will make it to football’s biggest showpiece. The draw against South Africa doesn’t mean that we are out of the World Cup race. Until the final game, I am still optimistic Nigeria can qualify for the World Cup.”