By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has stressed the importance of securing a crucial victory against South Africa in September to keep their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes alive.
Currently, Bafana Bafana lead Group C with 13 points, six ahead of Nigeria, with just four rounds of matches remaining.
Chelle acknowledged the significance of the upcoming clash but emphasized that the immediate focus is on the team’s next match against Rwanda in Uyo.
“It’s an obligation we win in South Africa, but the most important match for us right now is Rwanda in Uyo,” Chelle stated.
The Super Eagles coach, who previously led Mali to a 2-0 victory over South Africa at the 2023 AFCON, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome Bafana Bafana, citing his experience in handling such high-pressure encounters.
Chelle also praised his team’s intensity, high pressing, and fighting spirit, expressing optimism that they are on the right path to achieving success in the qualification campaign.
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.
