Chelle hails discipline, team spirit after Eagles beat Gabon

By Tosin Omojola –

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, says the team’s emphatic win over Gabon in Thursday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier playoff was made possible by the players’ passion and focus.

The Nigerian side overpowered Gabon 4–1 after extra time to reach the African World Cup play-offs final in Rabat, where they will face DR Congo on Sunday.

In his post-match remarks, Chelle said the performance reflected the discipline his team has embraced since he took charge. “I’m very proud of these guys because every time they stay focused on what I ask,” he said. “They show what I want, and they can prove it.”

Highlighting the unity and collective effort that carried the team through tense moments in Rabat, Chelle stated: “The word today was passion, working together and having the same mindset. We needed that, and they delivered.”

The former Malian national team coach refused to dwell on the off-field issues that surrounded the squad earlier in the week, insisting that his staff and players are focused on building a recognisable identity on the pitch.

“I don’t want to talk about what happened before,” he said. “Since I came, we try to work, we try to create an identity. The most important thing is how we play in defence and how we play in offence.”

He explained that even the limited preparation time during international windows has not stopped the team from developing. “We try to improve every FIFA window,” Chelle said. “Sometimes we have only two or three sessions, but these guys improve mentally and technically. They understand what I want to do with them.”

Chelle remains unbeaten as Nigeria’s coach after 10 matches in charge, including seven World Cup qualifiers without a single defeat.

Nigeria now face DR Congo, who beat Cameroon 1–0 in the second semi-final, in Sunday’s African play-offs final, with the winner advancing to the March 2026 Intercontinental Play-offs for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.