Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has revealed what he told his players after Osimhen’s goal against Zimbabwe in their frustrating 1-1 draw in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday.
The Warriors’ body language showed they were in Uyo to frustrate the Super Eagles and hand them a blow in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, to be staged in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Nigeria took the lead in the 74th minute through a trademark header from Victor Osimhen but allowed the Warriors to fight back and salvage a point in stoppage time when Tawanda Chirewa slotted past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The Super Eagles can still make it to the Mundial, although they find themselves in a dire situation, trailing South Africa by six points with four rounds remaining.
He told reporters after the game, “We tried to score many goals, and after we scored, I told my players to continue trying to score another goal.
“We were a little tired. We need ten seconds to analyze this goal because we made a small mistake to concede the goal.
“This is how we conceded against Rwanda here. This goal determined the result of the match.”
After six matches in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles are currently sitting fourth in the table with seven points.
2026 WCQ: What I told Nigerian players after Osimhen’s goal – Eric Chelle opens up
