Super Eagles’ Coach Eric Chelle Admits to Mistakes in Zimbabwe Draw

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has acknowledged that his team “made some mistakes” in their disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe during their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Despite Victor Osimhen’s 73rd-minute header giving Nigeria the lead, the Super Eagles failed to hold on, allowing Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa to equalize in the 90th minute—a result that has further dented Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes.

Chelle: “We Were the Better Team”

Speaking after the match, Chelle admitted his team’s errors but maintained that Nigeria was the superior side throughout the game.

“We made some mistakes, but we were the better team on the pitch. This is football. It is difficult for me to analyse the game right now; we will review it later. We scored and tried to score another goal.”

When asked about the defensive lapse that led to Zimbabwe’s equalizer, the coach refused to single out any player for blame.

“I don’t want to blame the defenders,” Chelle added.

Nigeria’s World Cup Qualification in Danger

The result leaves Nigeria in fourth place in Group C, trailing South Africa, Benin Republic, and Rwanda. With just seven points, the Super Eagles must win their remaining fixtures to stand a chance of making it to the 2026 World Cup.

Opinion: Are the Super Eagles Lacking Killer Instinct?

While Chelle’s refusal to blame individual players shows leadership, fans are running out of patience. The Super Eagles' habit of conceding late goals and failing to convert chances has now cost them valuable points.

With Nigeria’s footballing pedigree, settling for draws against lower-ranked teams is simply not acceptable. If the team truly wants to be World Cup contenders, they must show more discipline, focus, and a winning mentality.

The road to 2026 is getting tougher, and unless drastic improvements are made, the Super Eagles may be watching the next World Cup from home.