By Dayo Awoniyi
Former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Sani Toro, has called on Nigerians to support Super Eagles coach Eric Sekou Chelle amid mounting criticism, stressing that the coach needs “breathing space” to achieve World Cup qualification.
Chelle came under fire after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in Uyo—his second match in charge—leaving fans frustrated with the team’s slow start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Despite the setbacks, Toro remains confident in Nigeria’s chances of securing a spot in the tournament.
“I’ve said it before that Nigeria is going to qualify. Let’s pray for them, support them, and give them all the necessary backing,” he told journalists.
He urged the football authorities and fans to allow Chelle full control over team selection and tactical decisions.
“They have given the coach a target. Let him work towards it. He should be given a free hand to select the players he knows can help him. We should not be dictating to him,” Toro said.
With Chelle’s contract reportedly hinging on World Cup qualification, Toro emphasized the importance of national unity and optimism during the campaign.
“If he succeeds, well and good—his contract will be renewed. If not, he will be replaced. So let’s remain positive and help the team qualify,” he added.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
