A brace from Victor Osimhen and strikes from Akor Adams and Childera Ejuke secured a comfortable 4-1 win for the Super Eagles against Gabon after extra-time, in Thursday’s semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs.
The win means the Super Eagles have qualified for the playoffs final and will face either Cameroon or Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.
The Super Eagles had the first attempt on goal in the second minute from a free kick but the keeper gathered.
Adams had a big opportunity in the 4th minute after an error in the Gabon box but he could not beat the keeper from close range.
In the 14th minute a poor clearance by Stanley Nwabali was blocked by a Gabon player who tried to lob the ball into an empty net but his effort went wide.
Osimhen almost opened the scoring on 16 minutes as he connected with Zaidu Sanusi’s cross but his header missed the target.
Osimhen went close again on 21 minutes as he headed Alex Iwobi’s cross but was denied by the keeper for a corner kick.
Osimhen had another chance on 23 minutes off a pass from Ademola Lookman but miscued his chance.
Two minutes later the Super Eagles broke on the counter with Osimhen finding Bright Osayi-Samuel inside the box but the defender could not get a clean strike.
The Super Eagles continued to press and were almost rewarded but the Gabonese keeper made a brilliant save off the line.
In the 33rd minute Adams made a timely clearance from a dangerous corner.
Gabon went on a counter in the 37th minute but Sanusi made a great block to deny a cross.
With five minutes left in the first half Osayi-Samuel broke on the right but saw his cross palmed away by the keeper.
In the 44th minute Nwabali came to the Super Eagles rescue as he stopped a low shot inside the box.
There was a long check for a possible penalty for Gabon for a foul by Osayi-Samuel but it was not given after consultation with VAR.
Also Read: 2026 WCQ Playoffs: Super Eagles Will Overcome Gabon –Idah
Gabon won a free kick in a good area on 64 minutes but Osimhen headed the cross away for a corner.
On 65 minutes a dangerous cross by substitute Ejuke was cleared for a corner.
A few minutes later Moses Simon drove on the left and sent in a cross which went past Osimhen.
Adams eventually gave the Super Eagles the lead on 78 minutes as he pounced on a poor pass, round the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.
In the 86th minute Osimhen tried to lob the keeper who was off his line but it went wide.
Mario Lemina then made it 1-1 on 89 minutes after his shot took a slight deflection off Osayi-Samuel.
In one minute of added time Osimhen missed a big chance shooting wide after he was played through on goal by Ejuke.
Osimhen missed a golden chance in the final minute of added time as he went one on one with the keeper but shot wide.
Ejuke gave the Super Eagles the lead again on seven minutes of extra-time as he connected with Ndidi’s pass and slotted past the keeper.
Osimhen then made amends for his late miss as he received a pass from Fredericks and fired past the keeper to make it 3-1 on 102 minutes.
Simon had a big opportunity to extend the Super Eagles lead after receiving the ball inside the box but fired over the bar.
Osimhen then got his second and Super Eagles fourth as he brought down a long pass from Chidozie Awaziem, ran past his marker and shot past the keeper.
With two minutes left in second half extra time Ndidi hit a superb volley which was parried away for a corner.
At the other end Nwabali got down well to stop a goal bound shot before Awaziem cleared the rebound.
MATCH STATISTICS
Nigeria 4-1 Gabon
GOAL SCORERS: NIGERIA
Akor Adams
(78 min)
Childera Ejuke
(97 min)
Victor Osimhen
(102, 110 mins)
GOAL SCORER: GABON
Mario Lemina
(89 min)
LINE-UP: NIGERIA
Stanley Nwabali
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Benjamin Fredericks
Calvin Bassey
Zaidu Sanusi
Wilfred Ndidi
Samuel Chukwueze
Ademola Lookman
Alex Iwobi
Victor Osimhen
Akor Adams
SUBSTITUTES
Moses Simon
(Lookman, 60 min)
Chidera Ejuke
(Chukwueze, 61 min)
Frank Onyeka
(Adams, 83 min)
Chidozie Awaziem
(Iwobi, 108 min)
William Troost-Ekong
(Osayi-Samuel, 108 min)
Tolu Arokodare
(Osimhen, 117 min)
HEAD COACH: Eric Chelle
LINE-UP: GABON
Loyce Mbaba
Anthony Oyono
Aaron Appindangoye
Jacques Ekomie
Bruno Manga
Mario Lemina
Andre Poko
Ibrahim Ndong
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Denis Bouanga
Royce Openda
SUBSTITUTES
Bryan Ngoua
(Openda, 76 min)
Noha Lemina
(Poko, 76 min)
Samake Nze Bagnama
(Ndong, 84 min)
Alex Moucketou-Moussounda
(Ngoua, 100 min)
Jeremy Oyono
(Lemina, 100 min)
HEAD COACH: Thierry Mouyouma
By James Agberebi
47 Comments
Hahahaha The headline should have been osimhen bags a brace against a 15th ranked African minnow and 77th (fifa world ranking) Gabon…. Hahahaha
Dat one na for yur own pocket – na yuh dey carry de can – go bak to Ghana and live dis Nigreain alone. Shame on yuh! Osigoal really killing yuh game by game lmaaooo!
Thumbs up brother man@Four Four Two Yabaoh . You spoke well. Monkey Man has to drop this behaviour.
Oya change the headline to suit ur narrative now.
You this boy you are here again? Now go outside and play with your Genz mates. Osimhen na your mate?
I was at the stadium live but I left the stadium immediately Gabo got the equalizer I was in my room when my landlord knocked on My door shouting Nigeria must go to the world cup come and buy me beerbefore his son came to me and asked who is that ejuke before my Nigerian brotheran Hausa man came to my house with a bottle of wine he said up Nigeria Osimehn no gree for Gabon I checked my phone I saw 4.1 I was very happy
We struggled for goals in regulation time, but scored 3 in extra time? What happened. Tactical instruction from the bench. Check all the 3 goals in extra time, they were all placed to the far post. The same style. Chelle noticed the goalkeeper’s main tactic was to make himself big and force the striker to try to find a tiny space at the near post to score with a 10% chance of scoring. So place the ball at the far end of the other side. And it worked!
That said, while Osayi is always an asset going forward, just like Aina, he’s usually a suspect defensively. That’s where Aina edges him. He’s good going forward and also better defensively.
I really hope Nwabali doesn’t cause us heartbreak soon with the way he holds on to the ball very unnecessarily and so disrespectfully to the opponents.
I have a feeling we will meet Cameroon on Sunday and narrowly edge it.
DR Congo 1
Cameroon 0
Full-time
That feeling is wrong now, inside trash
What about ur fake dream @kel lolll.
Thank you very much for this
@Dr Drey, learn
The Gabonese had about eight 30+ yr old players in the starting line-up and entered extra time with 5 of them, including their 2 CBs. It was a no-brainer that we would overrun them in extra time. We overran them in every department of the game once the game got to 100 minutes, and they could hardly match up with the pace of the game any longer. That was why 2 defensive players could bully their players off the ball, run half the length of the pitch unassailed to provide assists. Nothing tactical there. If we had started Ekong and another 30+yr at CB too, and Gabon had strikers in their mid-20s, that was how they too would have cut us to size in extra time.
Fair points @Dr Drey. The clearly older Gabonese players tired in extra time and were hoping for a penalty shootout.
But are you seriously not going to give Chelle any credit? You didn’t think he switched up tactics, taking out Lookaman and Chukwueze for Simon and Ejuke, which led to our first goal?
Or that during the team talk before extra time, he tasked Ndidi with a freer, roaming role in extra time to tee up the strikers, a role previously assigned to Iwobi? Or that he asked the strikers to draw out the goalkeeper at an angle and then placed the ball at the far end?
You call taking out Lookman and Chuks for Simon and Ejuke a “tactical switch”….??
Are you kidding me…?? LMAOOo
That was like-for-like sub. Nothing tactical there.
And Ndidi roaming in extra time was nothing tactical….the Gabonese couldn’t match up with the pace in the middle anymore. Their coach had subbed of 4 of his starters in the midfield in order to double-team our wingers. In addition, neither 37-year-old Aubameyang nor 31-year-old Bouanga could press anymore, hence the “extra room to roam” and run directly at the centre back pairing of a 35-year-old and a 32-year-old. Moreover, Onyeka was also already on by extra time, making an extra pair of 20-something-year-old legs in the middle.
It was a no-brainer that we would overrun Gabon in extra time.
Nobody was drawing anybody out…it was normal instinctive striker movement. Osimhen is right-footed and was drifting rightwards the whole game, not just in extra time. Ejuke is also a right-footed right winger……so where else was he supposed to drift during a counterattack…..??? Left…???
I know you are in a hurry to make a hero out of Chelle, but let that be when he has exerted technical and tactical dominance over our equals or superiors.
A supposedly good coach doesn’t intentionally save his “best tactic” for extra time after huffing and puffing for 90 minutes with little to show. He had between 70 – 90th minutes to exhibit his tactical astuteness.
DR Congo on Sunday will be the beginning of a perfect test of his tactical sagacity, and he had better not repeat the 90 minutes of commotion he presented to us today.
Dr drey. Why are always negative. @Kel. Thank you for your analysis. Drey is still pained by Geneth rohr. Funny guy.. Now Dr Congo is the real test. If we beat Dr Congo , drey will say it’s now costa rica that will be the real test.
This Gabonese team is no push overs. Even with their 30 year olds they did very well during the normal qualifiers.
It’s just that our Coach now understand his team better. His changes produced good results. Even a fool will see that.
And the players are determined.
Let us give it to them.. they have scored eight goals in the last two matches and yet you don’t see anything good in them.. you’re negative my brother.
Let’s learn to appreciate good things biko, not criticism all the time. Apart from the goal scored at the regulation time, Nigeria missed 4 glaring one on one goal situation including that of osimhen in the dying minutes of the 2nd half which the coach should not be crucified for. Even if Nigeria had lost this game, I would still have given a very high rating for this coach for making me to watch one of the best games of the super eagles in the last decade!
Dr. Drey abeg rest ooo!!!
This analysis ignores the fact that we were vastly superior in the first 45 minutes with everyone fresh and should actually have sealed the game in the first half if Osimhen was clinical.
Hahahaha….Drey is pained by Gernot Rohr…..LMAOooo…because after Gernot Rohr we are ranked higher on the FIFA rankings, play better football or qualified for more world cups….??
My brother, if you dont have anything intelligent to say, why not just keep shut rather than embarrass yourself.
If there is anything that i have said that is false, point it out……otherwise if there is not, why not just learn to keep your mouth shut rather than laugbly and stupidly linking everything to Rohr.
I dont know if you have comprehension problems or you just have the propensity to tell lies in public despite carrying the name Christian Ministries, otherwise, you will need to point out where I saw no good in the players.
Oh yes, Congo is the real test. It’s a winner takes all game…they are an emerging force….they were semi finalists of the last AFCON and have retained the bulk of the team and coach that got them there. The same AFCON where Chelle lost in the Qfinals to a 10-man team despite leading 1-0 and playing with a man advantage for 75 minutes. They have a largely Europe-based squad, have an astute and experienced tactician in Dessabre, and have also reinforced with more Europe-born players……so YES DR CONGO will be the real test.
They wouldn’t be Benin Republic with 2nd, 3rd division or clubless players, nor Gabon with their team of 30-year-olds, nor South Africa with their home-based squad.
For 90 minutes, we were just huffing and puffing against Gabon without any sensible, clear-cut approach to how we intend to break them down, other than dashing to the wings and whatever comes afterwards. The only goal we scored when the energy levels were balanced was from an unforced howler by a Gabonese defender…..we could barely do anything of our own for 90mins bar the Osimhen header that was parried by the GK early in the 1st half.
Even blind Bartimaeus knows that we only started exerting clear dominance in extra time when the Gabonese didn’t have any lungs anymore hence 3 goals in 30 mins when we couldn’t fashion out any goals for ourselves the whole of 90 mins.
Yes, the Gabonese team is no pushover; that was why we couldn’t defeat them in regular time. Let’s thank FIFA there was the option of extra time in the playoffs; otherwise, we would have had to rely on the lottery of penalties. And that is why I am pessimistic about this man who literally sank Mali’s World Cup hopes before the NFF and now Osimhen gave him a chance to redeem his career. And with each passing game, it is getting clearer to me on why the Malian FA gave up on him.
Like I said earlier, I know yall are in a hurry to make a hero of him…..but the last thing I will do to to deify him for the resurgence of our WCQ hopes……its more of a case of we were pushed to the wall and suddenly everybody woke up and started rising to the occasion, more that Chelle’s tactical astuteness.
You can praise Chelle all the way for subbing off a left winger for a left winger, and a right winger for a right winger…….even a C-licensed coach is intelligent enough to do that. But the nearest equals we will be meeting since Chelle arrived is DRC…..and even the most optimistic Nigerian current is wary of them. I’ve read many commentaries since yesterday when DRC defeated Cameroon and every one of them was written with cautious optimism……..the is the coach you want me to deify……..LMAOoooo
I have said it before and will boldly say it again, if this man should lead us beyound the Qfinals in the forthcoming afcon, i will quit commenting on this forum from that dey till the 2026 world cup kicks off
Mr Nice, no one has said the players did not do well to win the game or score 3 goals in extra time, but ascribing it to “tactical astuteness” and looking for flimsy facts like “he subbed off Lookman and Chukwueze for Simon and Ejuke” to back that fallacy up is nothing but comical.
Who else was he supposed to sub Lookman off for when in need of a goal…? Maduka Okoye…?? Or who else was he supposed to sub Samu off for…? Onyemaechi….?? Even D licensed coaches sub off a right winger for a right winger and a left winger for a left winger. How that translates to tactical astuteness needs investigating.
I dont trust this dude and I dont trust him, and I dont have any apologies for that. There was a reason (actually more than one, and very valid reasons) his own home FA disposed of him after being patient with him for a good period of time. He’s been with the SE for about 6 months now, yet, bar the match against Benin, we are barely grinding out results in games. He’s the correct definition of “Gather and Play” coach (apologies to Omo9ja). I have many non-Nigerian friends who watch this team, and they’re always asking me what has happened to our football….?? The team now plays based on individual intuition rather than as a collective entity….that is why when 1 or 2 persons aren’t available, the whole entity collapses.
Everywhere across Africa, the general agreement is that this SE team is running on the fuel of individual star power rather than tactical ingenuity. If we couldn’t breach this Gabonese team in 90 minutes, then there’s a big problem for us ahead.
So it is that kind of coach you want me to fall on my knees and worship…..?? LMAOoooo
I am not saying or wishing Chelle should be sacked, but I am not expecting much from him either.
Are you saying making a like-for-like can’t be a tactical decision? Even though 2 players who play the same position can have slightly different styles, strengths, and weaknesses?
If a coach analyzed the opposition or the flow of the game and determined that a player with a different profile would be more effective in that kind of opposition, or for the reason that the subbed-out player was not entirely in the game, was getting tired, a bit rusty and not fresh, making mistakes, and not gelling with his teammates, that can’t qualify as tactical?? Except it’s a forward for a defender to kill off the game or protect the lead? Don’t forget how Paseiro used to bring on Onuachu for Osimhen just to kill games? That isn’t tactical, too?
I get your argument. My question, though, is what positives do you see with Chelle? At least every bad thing has a good side and vice versa.
First and foremost, this conversation is not about Eric being “bad”. I’ve not said that and never said that.
He can as well continue to grind results as he has been doing…..I care less as long as this set of SE players don’t miss out on playing at a World Cup this time or any other time in their careers. But I have no expectations from him either. Cos like i previously said, with each passing day, I keep seeing the reasons why his home FA ran out of patience with him.
Our people say 1 time na accidental, 2 times na coincidence, if e don dey pass 2 times make we begin ask God to take control. He can as well continue to ride on star power until he meets star power on the other side, too. And by the way, I hope y’all realize that in official football records, yesterday’s match was a draw. Extra time and subsequently penalties are more of a tie-breaker when there is a need that a winner must emerge. That is why betting companies only regard the results of football matches within 90 minutes.
It is you who’s trying to ascribe ingenuity he has not displayed to him…..just like the other due who was desperate to award a win ratio of 80% to him the other day.
Read what you’ve highlighted above again, and please tell us what is ingenious about it all. Even you, who has neither been a footballer nor a coach, would take those lines of action…….you don’t even need a CAF D coaching license to be able to. So once again, what is tactical about that….? What is the stuff of genius in it that deserves this much hype….? You even ascribed the natural instinctive runs of strikers to Chelle…….LMAOooooo
Have you even asked why Lookman and Samu even became ineffective from the beginning of the 2nd half…?? It’s simple, the Gabonese started double-teaming our wingers, their coach having deduced that that was the only route we were exploring all game.
There was a yawning gap in the middle of the Gabonese midfield that was begging to be explored for most parts of the 2nd half, which we never did…. thanks to the “ingenuity” of replacing a left winger with another left winger and a right winger with another right winger. We never played better nor created more chances afterwards…..so once again, what tactical acumen are you eulogizing? We were gifted a goal by the Gabonese, and they still had the presence of mind to push one of their midfielders forward to get their much-needed equalizer.
So much for Chelle’s tactical acumen.
The 2nd half was begging for a tactical re-engineering from a 4-2-4 to a 4-3-3, so we could explore the gaping hole in the middle by playing narrow. It is not a mere coincidence that the 3 goals we scored in extra time came through the middle, buoyed by the advantage of an extra yard of pace, physical and mental energy we had over the Gabonese by then in that critical phase of the game. The Gabonese coach even had to pull out 2 of the players he had earlier subbed in to plug the hole, but it was too late. Our 2 quick-fire goals in extra time through the middle had undone his byline double-teaming tactics and knocked off steam from the knees of the golden oldies, the Gabonese were parading. And pls don’t try telling us it was Chelle who told them to attack through the middle…….LMAOooo. We all saw that it was the two players in question (Benjamin and Ndidi) seizing the initiative and running that gaping midfield channel after dispossessing the opponent of the ball.
So, once again, I know you are in a hurry to make a hero out of Chelle, afterall, we were practically dead and buried after the horrors Peseiro and Finid put us through, so anything better than what they served us would taste like the best. But I know that if if these symptoms persist, Chelle would be stirpped naked the the same yous who cant wait for him to exert technical and tactical dominance over our equals or superiors before making a genius out of him
A supposedly good coach doesn’t intentionally save his “best tactic” for extra time after huffing and puffing for 90 minutes with little to show. He had between the 65th – 90th minute to exhibit his tactical astuteness.
He had better get his thinking cap on for DR Congo on Sunday and hope the first 90 minutes of Osimhen’s game yesterday will be the last off-day Osimhen will ever have under his management. He himself know the boy is the reason he still got a job at the moment.
Gabon played ultra defensive in the first half which made it (more) difficult for the Super Eagles to convert the chances they created into goals.
When Gabon decided to come out and play, they were wide open and started making mistakes, making it easy for Akor to capitalise to score.
Ejuke was not alive to his defensive duties by staying up front, leaving a Gabonese on acres of space to score via a wicked deflection.
To Gabon’s eternal regret, they grew in false confidence and decided to be more offensive and open in their play.
This allowed Nigeria to take the driving seat in midfield, which allowed Ndidi, Frederick and others to capitalise and feed Osihmen and Ejuke to put the icing on the cake.
Nwabali has lost his way, being hesitant to clear simple balls several times which almost led to silly goals being conceded. I think we should try Amas Obaseki.
Frederick is simply unplayable, by far Nigeria’s current best centre back. Zaidu and Osayi-Samuel provided credible attacking threats.
Ndidi channels his inner maturity to manifest mature midfield players. Iwobi was in and out of the game but his desire remains commendable.
Osihmen is a brilliant behemoth (a shining star)and Akor goes about his business with quite professionalism.
Lookman and Chukwueze wedged their movements within the fabric of the formation effectively without producing individual moments of magic.
Ejuke is a credible sub option with credible touches and a goal threat.
Whoever doesn’t believe in Eric Chelle can take it or leave it. Scoring 4 goals in back to back high tempo, high stakes games is no mean feat.
Finally, the Super Eagles can confidently play with 2 centre backs and can be expected to score goals when we play African teams willing to come out to play football.
Deo thank you. The only person that does not believe is drey. Deo thank you for your analysis
Thank you brother you nailed it you are open minded we don’t just criticize because we love to let facts be established. I have decided not to read some people comments in this platform henceforth whether for good or bad cos of my mental health
@Ndubest same here ooo, if you value ur mental health u just gat ignore some comment.
So, how many goals did Aubameyang score today?
And, what about the “5 Gabonese stars to watch out for” that CSN wrote about? What wonders did they perform?
The same Gabon that “performed far better than Nigeria” in the group stage (according to CSN readers) could not do much today when they met face to face with real football stars.
Congratulations, coach Chelle and the high flying Super Eagles of Nigeria (and shame to the disgraceful NFF)!
Auba was completely toothless and should retire. It says a lot for Gabon’s strength in depth if 36-year-old Aubamayang was still leading the line. And the other striker was not much different. I guess they were all more invested in their hairs, whether to make it curly or colored, being superstars. Lol.
Besides, in the last few days, I watched a few of Gabon’s matches in the main WCQs and noticed they were porous at the back. It made me wonder how they finished 2nd in their group.
I’d say if they were in our group, they’d likely have come 4th. Their group was a bit weak. Even the winners, CIV, were not really spectacular, just slightly better than Gabon. I’m going to analyse Cameroon vs DRC tonight. I do suspect Camroun will win, though, and slug it out with Nigeria on Sunday.
Great team performance! On to the next!
Thumbs up @Golden Goose.
Congrats to the team.
The coach proved once again that he is a master of tactics, swags, and balance football.
But he needs to do more worh fumbling Iwobi who overstayed in the match.
The first two goals we scored in the extra time justifies the ineffectiveness of Iwobi.. it took defensive players like Frederick and Ndidi to show the much needed creativity and boldness to open up the defense.. We really missed Fisayo!
It is obvious that our unsung heroes are the forgotten ones who our local coaches (Finidi and Egu) ignored when they were even playing regularly.
Imagine Fredericks, Akor, Ejuke, Aro, are the heroes of our resurgence.
The coach should continue refreshing the team as I believe that only 50% of the old blocks should be considered for regular invitation (Nwabali, Bassey, Zaidu,Ajayi, Aina, Ndidi, Simon, Lookman, Fisayo, Chukwueze, Osi, Onyeka, Onyedika, and a much improved Iwobi)..
Proven ones like Fredericks, Akor, Agu, Ejjuke, Aro, and Tella should be integrated.
Good performers in Europe like Durosinmi, Ahanor, Ejaria, Kayode, and others should be considered for friendly matches.
The fact the coach didn’t instruct the boys to seat back even after scoring the second goal is commendable, 8 goals score and non conceded in 2 high profile games bar for the own goal.
The team is flying, bring on cameroun or Congo on Sunday already.
@Don Perez what are u still waiting for? Bring out the cheque book asap and offer Brentford 10m for this gem of a boy call Benjamin pls. Boy is yet to make a single mistake in 4 consecutive 90minutes matches for the SE.
Wow, DRC scores at the last minute to win!
It’s Nigeria vs DRC on Sunday!
We are facing DR Congo on Sunday.
Let’s face Congo with same zeal going forward and avoid needless back pass after creating attacking openings. The back pass kills progressive opportunities and gives opponents opportunity to regroup. No complacency we still have two matches to get the World Cup ticket. We can do it!!!
I think DRC is more defensively solid compared to Gabin. No pockets of spaces, and you may not get many chances like today. The defenders were always alert to snuff out Cameroonian forays before they got too deadly.
Cameroon were just not good enough. DR Congo was mostly playing jambody football. I’m wary of them, but we must be ready for them.
Men, I couldn’t agree with you more.
I actually hoped we met Cameroon because, as a unit, they are just not up to the job. We would have easily defeated Cameroon 2 or 3 nil. But Congo? They are dark horses, spoilers, unknown quantities, chameleons hiding in plain sight.
They are defeatable but we should be on top of our game.
If we let our guards down, like Cameroon did in that corner kick, we will be hit, and hit hard and bad.
This Congo gave the almighty Senegalese that defeated England a tough time. They drew senegal in their home, then were leading 2 nil before senegal came back and won 3-2 in their home. I checked all their previous results, opponent hardly score them. They have been super strong defensively. We must be very careful. The match will be tough. Dr Congo na very strong opponent.
I said it on this platform in 2023, that Fredrick Benjamin will partner calvin Bassey in 2026 wc and right now my prophecy is coming to past.
Well said Sister woman Mercy. Your prophesy is good.
Ejuke was crap in this game. He was lucky to have scored. He couldn’t track back, walking on the pitch. Finding it difficult to dribble past his next man. Congo is very strong in defense.
Did u watch the back of your television @Cosmos pls if you don’t have anything good to say just keep quiet.
hindubest abi na hindustan or wat?
He’s not lying, ees yuh whu was washing de back of your telly or de one dem show yuh for beer parlour, nor come here dey yan nonsense, na all of us wash de game and Ejuke was very crap like de guy say, hin nor fit dribble pass hin man, nor dey trak bak defend and nor get any impact in de game, de goal hin score na pure luck so if yuh didnt have anyting wey make sense say, den jus sharap
Eric Chelle is an evolving coach. Let’s encourage him to grow. What he is doing with the SE is unique. For once, we should suppress this ‘perfectionist expectations’ lest we risk distracting this man, or at worst, losing him to other countries.
He has been doing fine work lately.
The path of professional growth is not static, but progressive improvement.
That his country let him go means nothing.
Truth is, it’s very hard for me to condemn a coach who has actually woken up the Super Eagles’ attacking spirit from whatever coma it was in. Before Chelle came, we were scoring goals the way Nigeria supplies electricity — occasionally, unreliably, and mostly by accident.
But since he arrived? goals have been flowing like Ramadan rice.
The last time we scored 4+ goals in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers was in 2005 — a 5–2 away win against Algeria and a 5–1 demolition of Zimbabwe at home. That was 21 years ago, when Nokia phones still had antennas and “Facebook” sounded like a scam they would warn you about in Computer Village.
And look at the numbers:
Chelle: 15 goals in 7 matches, only 4 conceded, unbeaten.
Before Chelle: 4 goals in 4 matches, 5 conceded, pure disaster.
The man inherited a leaking basket and somehow turned it into a functional water bottle. If we’re being honest, he deserves his flowers.
You can even see the players enjoy playing for him. The first 35 minutes against Gabon were some of our best football in years — sharp pressing, clean passing, dangerous runs, and enough chances to make a highlights compilation. And if not for their goalkeeper turning into Prime Van Der Saar, we would have buried that match early. Truly, we’ve been so unlucky in this series — it’s like every opponent suddenly activates “Goalkeeper of the Year” mode against us.
Now… let me not act like everything is perfect.
My blood pressure still spikes ANYTIME we take the lead. Immediately we score, the team starts defending like ushers guarding puff-puff at a wedding. We sit back, invite pressure, and behave like one goal guarantees eternal salvation.
Chelle still has homework to do on game management — that one is no lie. But even in that area, I’ve seen improvement. Subbing Chukwueze for Onyeka to strengthen the midfield was a mature, tactical decision. And Chidera brought his usual beautiful chaos — questionable defending here, odd choices there, but he added real spark and scored a crucial goal.
So yes, I still have my reservations.
Yes, my heart still beats double after we score.
And yes, Chelle still needs extra classes in How to Hold a Lead 101.
But overall?
I’m genuinely pleased with the progress and the results. The team looks alive again, dangerous again, confident again. If he keeps growing, adds more discipline, and perfects his in-game control, we might just be cooking something special.
For now, I’m backing him — and he has truly earned that support.
I appreciate Eric Chelle a lot, and I never regret supporting the Gaffer.
If everyone is doing the talking, then it is good, but not this young man who Chelle schooled Oga Rohr 4-0, unreplied in Uyo a few weeks back.
I think the young man is pained. This is why I call him my pikin. If you don’t have anything good to say about Eric Chelle, please stay aside and keep backing your World’s best coach, Oga Rohr.
However, the Super Eagles have not started yet under the world-class coach Eric Chelle. After Sunday, when we win Congo and qualify for the Intercontinental tournament, then the gaffer will have time to prepare his team. I am happy and very proud of my Eric Chelle.
Super Eagles will reclaim their position in Africa and on the global stage. Let’s go Super Eagles. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!