Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle expressed immense admiration for his players following their dominant 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, a result that secured Nigeria’s place in the CAF Playoff Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking after the match, Chelle praised his team’s determination and resilience in adapting to a new coach and philosophy.
“I’m so proud of my players,” he said.
“They earned this win. It wasn’t easy adjusting to a new system, but tonight I’m just happy for them. They played brilliantly both tonight and three days ago.”
Chelle also singled out striker Victor Osimhen for special praise after his hat-trick extended his international goal tally to 29 in 44 appearances, moving him closer to surpassing Nigeria’s all-time top scorer, the late Rashidi Yekini.
Calling Osimhen “the best striker in the world,” Chelle’s comment was met with applause in the post-match media room.
“I love him. He’s the best striker in the world. But I’m proud of every player — everyone contributed something vital to this team. I’m especially proud of my captain, who scored a crucial penalty in the previous match. They all gave their all,” he added.
With this victory, Nigeria now prepares to face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs.
The play-offs will feature the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups and are scheduled to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16. Both semi-final matches will be held on November 13, with the winners meeting three days later in a single-leg final.
The overall winner will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026, aiming to secure a spot in the World Cup finals to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
