Chelle: Nigeria could have scored 10 goals

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Mar 26, 2025. 11:00

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has bemoaned his team’s wastefulness after they could only draw 1-1 with Zimbabwe in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Tuesday.

The Super Eagles created a whole host of chances in Uyo, but they had to wait until the 74th minute to breach Washington Arubi’s goal after Victor Osimhen headed home a cross from Ola Aina.

However, the hosts failed to hold onto their lead as Tawanda Chirewa capitalised on poor defending to equalise in the 90th minute and dash their hopes of claiming second place from Rwanda in Group C.

Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were particularly guilty of failing to take their chances in the first half and Chelle felt the West African giants should have put the game to bed by half-time.

“What can I say about the first half? Normally, we could have scored 10 goals in the first half,” he said. “You make some mistake in the last technical skills and Zimbabwe comes to defend and stop the game.

“In the second half, when we scored the goal, we thought maybe it is finished. It tough, it’s hard because my players and my team were the better team on the pitch.”

Nigeria remain in fourth position, only one point behind the Wasps, but they appear to have little chance of winning the group as South Africa have opened up a five-point gap on the chasing pack.

Chelle is targeting the runners-up spot with four matches left to play and September’s encounters against Rwanda and Bafana Bafana have taken on even more importance as he seeks to qualify for the global showpiece in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

“I am so disappointed for my players, for the country because we can do it. I don’t know the other games, I think we can go to look for the second place,” he added.