Tremendous Eagles insider, Colin Udoh, has revealed that goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and a number of other teammates appeared unaware that Nigeria wanted greater than three targets to safe a spot within the 2026 World Cup playoffs throughout their match towards Benin Republic.
The environment on the Godswill Akpabio Worldwide Stadium in Uyo — and throughout Nigeria — was tense, as many followers doubted the Tremendous Eagles’ capacity to beat Benin. It might have ended in a different way had Eric Chelle’s males failed to search out the fourth aim.
The Tremendous Eagles ultimately triumphed 4–0 over Benin on Tuesday night, a end result that secured their playoff spot.
Nonetheless, many Nigerians didn’t realise how shut the staff got here to elimination till Frank Onyeka’s late aim sealed the victory.
CAF had earlier reintroduced a revised system for choosing the second-best groups after Eritrea’s withdrawal from the qualifiers. This rule allowed Nigeria to edge Burkina Faso for the playoff ticket with 15 factors and a aim distinction of +7, in comparison with Les Étalons’ 15 factors and +6 aim distinction.
“The aim was essential, it did look, for some minutes, that the gamers weren’t conscious they wanted a fourth aim,” Udoh stated on ESPN FC.
“I noticed the goalkeeper losing time a bit of bit. I don’t know whether or not they knew or not, so I texted somebody on the bench to inform the fellows that we wanted a fourth aim.
“We obtained the fourth aim, and in the long run, that single strike was sufficient for the Tremendous Eagles to edge Burkina Faso and transfer on to the playoffs.
“I didn’t consider they had been going to make it. I used to be chatting with the NFF President after the sport, and he stated he was within the dressing room at half-time.
“He instructed Osimhen and the others that they wanted to attain 4 targets to make it by means of.”
Nigeria will now face Gabon within the playoff scheduled for November 2025 in Morocco.
