Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has urged his Tremendous Eagles to stay targeted and calm forward of their must-win conflict towards South Africa in Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on the Free State Stadium.
Talking at his pre-match press convention on Monday night, Chelle averted getting drawn into the continued Teboho Mokoena eligibility controversy and as a substitute harassed that his precedence is making ready his gamers to ship a “nice sport” towards Hugo Broos’ facet.
“We’re targeted on our sport plan. I’m targeted about my participant and I do know one thing, the group of South Africa is an excellent group. You could have lots of good gamers. I like your coach. He’s an excellent coach and his technical workers. So like I mentioned earlier, we all know that this can be a massive sport. So I’m actually glad to play this sport,” Chelle mentioned.
The previous Mali worldwide additionally revealed that his squad is extremely motivated and prepared for the problem regardless of dealing with the table-topping Bafana Bafana in entrance of their dwelling followers.
“Like my gamers, we’re glad and that is the second to do a terrific sport. I’m only a coach, you realize, I lead my group. What occurs round my group and round this sport, about it? You discuss concerning the yellow card. There may be an organisation, this organisation, whose identify is FIFA. So FIFA must handle it now. This isn’t my downside now. My downside is my gamers. First, as a result of they’re targeted. They need to make as soon as once more a terrific sport right here. And after that, simply take into consideration our sport and never what occurred across the sport and across the story,” he added.
Flying with out Osimhen
Chelle additionally acknowledged the absence of Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s talismanic striker, who was dominated out after struggling an harm in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda.
Nonetheless, the Tremendous Eagles boss expressed confidence within the energy and depth of his squad.
“Osimhen is an enormous star. He’s an excellent participant. Like I mentioned, I’ve an enormous group too. I’ve some massive gamers with me, in my facet. They’re greater than gamers for me. And for positive, I can inform you one thing, they need to play a terrific sport right here,” Chelle mentioned.
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The Tremendous Eagles, presently third in Group C with 10 factors, face a South African group main the standings on 16 factors. A win for Nigeria would hold their hopes of computerized qualification alive with two matches left to play in October.
In the meantime, pressure stays excessive following FIFA’s ongoing overview of South Africa’s doable breach of rules of their 2-0 win over Lesotho earlier this 12 months, the place Teboho Mokoena allegedly performed regardless of suspension. However Chelle made it clear that Nigeria’s focus should stay on the pitch, not the politics.
Kickoff is ready for five p.m. Nigerian time on the Free State Stadium, with a capability crowd anticipated in Bloemfontein for what may very well be a defining night time in Group C.
