We want to go to the World Cup - Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle assures Nigerians

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle believes the Nigerian national team will be at the 2026 World Cup, and the team has made significant strides since he took charge earlier this year.

The Franco-Malian manager, appointed in January, successfully guided the team to the World Cup qualifying playoffs after a challenging start to the campaign.

In a recent interview, Chelle reflected on his tenure and the team's development.

He said, "I think the team has improved since I took over. It is difficult because you don’t have enough time to work. The FIFA window is usually short, and you have a small time to work with, so focus is on one or two principles of play."

Despite the limited time with his players, Chelle is confident in their progress. "I can judge the ten months with the Super Eagles because we have improved every game," he noted.

The coach also highlighted his leadership structure within the squad, relying on a core group of senior players to communicate his message.

"I have a small leadership group, and that's William Troost-Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon, and Victor Osimhen. If I'm not happy about the group, happy or ask anything, I speak to them first."

Chelle emphasised a game-by-game approach, dismissing any notion that the team's playoff qualification was a matter of luck. He attributed their success to the dedication of his entire staff.

"This isn’t luck. When I took this job with my technical staff, we did not sit down. We came to work and gave everything for this team and for this country.

"We have done great work in these past ten months, and this is down to the work we have put in," Chelle asserted.

He continued, "The most important is November, and we have two games. The reality is that the job starts now. I’ve always known that we have a chance to reach the playoffs. The reality is we will continue to work, with our energy and state of mind. We want to go to the World Cup."

Should the Super Eagles overcome Gabon in the CAF World Cup playoff semi-finals in November, they will face either DR Congo or Cameroon for a spot in the inter-continental