Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, secured a 2–1 victory over Lesotho on Friday in their ongoing campaign to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, Head Coach Eric Chelle revealed that the team has been grappling with intense pressure since the start of the qualifiers in March.
Speaking at a post-match press conference, Chelle expressed pride in his players’ performance but acknowledged the psychological toll of expectations surrounding Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions.
“Today we are happy because we won. We are still alive. I am happy for my players and I want to congratulate them,” Chelle said. “Perhaps we have felt the pressure since March… for Nigeria, we need to travel and we need to go to the World Cup.”
The match saw the return of key players, including Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen and Al-Kholood defender William Troost-Ekong, both of whom contributed to the team’s strong showing.
Chelle noted that the pressure affected the team’s technical execution, particularly in the first half. “Playing in this game is not the same as regular football,” he said. “Technically, sometimes we miss some things… there is a lot of tension.”
Troost-Ekong echoed the coach’s sentiments, describing the match as challenging and commending Lesotho’s performance. “Lesotho played a great game, and we knew that from the start,” he said. “The pressure has been on us since March at the start of the Qualifiers.”
Despite the challenges, Troost-Ekong expressed optimism about the team’s trajectory. “We want to be better always because we have a team of guys who want to be winners and want to be at the World Cup,” he added.
The Super Eagles’ victory keeps their qualification hopes alive as they prepare for the final group match against Benin Republic. The team remains focused on securing a spot in the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.