Super Eagles coach Eric Sekou Chelle has made it clear that he won’t be drawn into speculating over permutations and scenarios as Nigeria fights for qualification to the 2026 World Cup. He insists the team must concentrate on what they can control: getting results on the pitch.
“I am not making any mathematical calculations or permutations about our chances,” Chelle declared, rejecting talk of what-ifs and hypothetical outcomes.
The coach warned against distractions, expressing confidence that the squad’s attitude and performance will determine their fate more than any external figures or projections.
Chelle added, “From the first day up till now, I was always thinking that we could go to the World Cup, and I believe anything can happen.
“Last week, I didn’t wake up and say, ‘Wow, they’ve dropped three points from South Africa, and we can now qualify. We tried to win our last match but we got a draw, and the reality is that we didn’t lose. So, this is football.”
Chelle Continued, “Now we have the last two games, and our only thinking for now is this game versus Lesotho. We are thinking of how to win it.
“After that, people can do the mathematics and try to calculate what happens next. But, the reality for now is that we focus only on this game.”
While Nigeria’s path to the playoff round requires favorable results elsewhere, Chelle believes his players should block out noise and focus on executing their game plan.
With pressure mounting in Group C, this assertion sets the tone for Nigeria’s approach in the upcoming must-win fixtures.
