Obafemi Martins Applauds Eric Chelle’s Impact on Super Eagles Despite World Cup Heartbreak

Former Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins has praised the progress made by Super Eagles under head coach Éric Chelle, while admitting that the failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains a painful disappointment for players and supporters alike.

Martins made the remarks while reflecting on the three -time African champions’ recent performances, which have seen the team show significant improvement under the Franco-Malian tactician.

Nigeria has enjoyed an encouraging run of form, remaining unbeaten in their last five matches with three wins and two draws while scoring 11 goals. The resurgence has come despite the absence of key stars such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, with several new faces stepping up to strengthen competition within the squad.

One of the standout moments of the team’s recent revival came in the final of the Unity Cup, where the Super Eagles produced an impressive attacking display to defeat the Jamaica National Football Team and lift the trophy.

Despite those positive developments, Martins acknowledged that the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to cast a shadow over the team’s progress.

Nigeria’s qualification campaign ended in heartbreak after the Super Eagles fell short in the African playoffs. Having finished second behind the South Africa National Football Team in their qualifying group, Nigeria advanced to the playoffs, where they defeated the Gabon National Football Team 4-1 after extra time in the semi-finals.

However, their World Cup hopes were dashed in the playoff final against the DR Congo National Football Team. After a 1-1 draw following extra time in Rabat, Morocco, Nigeria suffered a 4-3 defeat on penalties, condemning the country to a second consecutive absence from football’s biggest tournament.

Reacting to the team’s recent displays, Martins praised the contributions of the newly invited players and their determination to seize their opportunities.

“I’m so happy for the new invitees because they all gave a good account of themselves, and I think they played quite well. I’m proud of that,” Martins said.

While encouraged by the emergence of fresh talent and the positive influence of Chelle’s leadership, the former striker believes the pain of missing the World Cup will take time to heal.

Nigeria will now look to build on its recent progress under Chelle as preparations continue for future competitions, with the focus firmly on developing a squad capable of restoring the country’s place among football’s elite on the global stage.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.

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