National Teams
Eric Chelle shifts focus on 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
After this week’s draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, the head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, Eric Chelle, is now focusing on the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The Super Eagles will face Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda in Group C of AFCON 2025 but before the tournament will get busy with the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
They will face Rwanda and Zimbabwe on March 19 and 22, respectively.
“As I’ve said before, my focus is on my players and March,” Chelle stated.
“We need to concentrate on the World Cup qualifiers first, and after that, we can begin thinking about the AFCON in October. For now, we need to win two games in March.”
The three-time African champions have three points from a possible 12 and need positive results in March to stand any chance of qualifying for the next World Cup.
After taking part in the biggest football Mundial in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2018, the team only failed to make it to the 2006 and 2022 tournaments in Germany and Qatar.
The major target of Chelle is to help the Super Eagles change their dwindling fortunes at the World Cup Qualifiers.
