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With Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hanging in the balance, Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has urged his players to approach their must-win clash against Lesotho with absolute focus.
The match, scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time (6:00 p.m. local time), will take place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa. It marks matchday nine in the African qualifiers, with Nigeria’s hopes of qualification hanging by a thread.
Chelle, addressing the media at a press conference on Thursday, emphasised the importance of beginning the game with aggression, urgency, and full concentration.
“We need to start well—start with intensity and be aggressive,” he said. “What we want is to achieve victory. We are 100 per cent focused on this game against Lesotho, who are a good team with a good coach.”
The coach warned of the unpredictability of football, citing factors such as weather conditions, refereeing decisions, and individual errors as potential game-changers. However, he maintained that the team’s mindset must remain fixed on securing all three points.
“Everybody can’t go to the World Cup. In football, anything can happen. But we must stay focused on what we want to achieve,” Chelle added.
A draw or loss against Lesotho would virtually end Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 tournament, increasing the pressure on the players to deliver a result.
The Super Eagles are currently in camp in South Africa, with key players such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi all expected to feature in Friday’s clash.
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