As Nigeria gears up for a must-win showdown against Rwanda in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has made his intentions crystal clear—victory is the only option.
Speaking at his first-ever pre-match press conference, the reserved but determined Chelle exuded the demeanor of a man who prefers to let his team do the talking on the pitch. When asked about his approach to the crunch tie, he kept his message simple yet powerful.
“My team must be focused on our game. We need to be focused—both when we have the ball and when we don’t. we need to focus on our prepration,” Chelle stated, dismissing any distractions ahead of his debut match in charge.
On working with the talented Nigerian squad, a team he had only previously watched from afar, he remained measured. “It’s just our second training session together and the team need to be together,” he noted, emphasizing that success would come with time and hard work.
As the first non-Nigerian African to take charge of the Super Eagles, Chelle was asked whether this added extra motivation to his role. His response was telling: “I just want to be with my guys. I want them to focus only on this game. They are training hard because they want Nigeria to be proud of them. I just want to win the game because the country needs this win.”
A Battle in Kigali: History Against Nigeria
The road ahead is anything but easy. Rwanda has proven to be a stubborn opponent on home soil, frustrating Nigeria in all three of their previous encounters in Kigali over the last two decades.
- 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Nigeria was held to a 1-1 draw at the Amahoro Stadium.
- 2011 AFCON Qualifier: A scoreless 0-0 stalemate at the Stade Régional de Nyamirambo.
- 2025 AFCON Qualifier: Another frustrating 0-0 result at the Amahoro Stadium last September.
One common theme in all these encounters? Rwanda’s relentless fight and intensity, despite having a squad that, on paper, should be no match for Nigeria’s star-studded lineup.
If the Super Eagles are to claim a crucial three points, Chelle’s men must match Rwanda’s hustle, hunger, and aggression for every ball. This is no place for complacency. The past cannot be changed, but the future of Nigeria’s World Cup campaign depends on what happens in Kigali.
It’s a must win game, so we all be behind the team . Supporting them to glory.