Nigeria coach, Eric Chelle was full of admiration for his players following their emphatic 4–0 win over Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday, describing Victor Osimhen as ‘the best striker in the world’ after the forward’s hat-trick sealed the Super Eagles’ place in the CAF Playoff Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A Victor Osimhen hat-trick and a thunderous strike from substitute Frank Onyeka ensured a resounding win for the three-time African champions at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. The result means Nigeria will now compete in the four-nation playoff in Morocco next month for a chance to reach the intercontinental stage of qualification.
Speaking after the match, Chelle said he was full of admiration for the commitment and resilience his players showed under the pressure of a must-win encounter.
“I’m so proud of my players,” he said.
“They deserved this game because it was not easy with a new coach and a new philosophy to adapt to. So tonight I’m just happy for my players. They played a great game two hours ago, and they also played a great game three days ago.”
The coach was also full of praise for Victor Osimhen, who scored three times to extend his international tally to 29 goals in 44 appearances, putting him on course to overtake Nigeria’s all-time top scorer, the late Rashidi Yekini.
Chelle described the ex-Napoli striker as “the best striker in the world”, a statement that drew applause from the post-match media room.
“I love him. He is the best striker in the world. But I’m proud of all the players because everybody brought something to this team. I’m especially proud of my captain because he scored a great penalty (in the last match). They all gave everything,” Chelle said.
Chelle, who took charge of the team in the middle of the qualification campaign, admitted that the victory was only the beginning of a long road to redemption for the Super Eagles.
He said the group was aware of the challenges ahead as they turn their focus to Morocco, saying, “This is not finished. This is the beginning. It will be very, very difficult. Now we go to Morocco and we have a lot of work to do.”
The Franco-Malian tactician reserved special praise for the fans, whose passionate support at the Uyo stadium, he said, lifted the team to victory.
“I’m happy for the fans because they brought us the victory. They started to help us, to push us, to take this victory,” Chelle added.
He also lauded his players’ unity and sense of responsibility, emphasising that the win was a collective effort built on trust and belief within the squad. “All the players gave everything,” he said.
“For me, they are my champions. Football is like that, sometimes you make mistakes and lose, but they love the country and always give everything.”
Chelle highlighted the importance of team spirit in his rebuilding process, noting that the relationship between himself, his captain, and the players remained central to their progress.
“Sometimes I make mistakes too, but you can ask the captain and the players, we are a family,” he said. “If we win, we win together. If we lose, we take it together.”
Reflecting on the team’s improvement under his guidance, Chelle reiterated that Nigeria’s journey was only beginning and that the coming weeks would be critical.
“Now we have a lot of work to do,” he concluded.
Nigeria will next regroup ahead of the CAF playoff tournament scheduled for November 13–16 in Morocco, where they will battle for one of Africa’s final spots in the intercontinental playoff.
The eventual winner will advance to face teams from Asia, Oceania, and the Americas for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Credit: punchng.com
