Super Eagles Fired Up For Benin Showdown As Chelle, Troost-Ekong Promise Victory

The Super Eagles are brimming with confidence ahead of Tuesday’s all-important 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo at 5 p.m. today.

Head coach Eric Chelle has assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles will go all out for victory, describing the match as one that must be won at all costs.

“We have to win this game tomorrow. I have to put my mind into tomorrow’s game; we must win and nothing more. We want to go to the World Cup. I am very happy, very excited. Sometimes, we may be a little nervous,” Chelle told reporters during the pre-match press conference on Monday.

Team captain William Troost-Ekong also expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness, saying the players are determined to make the nation proud.

“There are players here who want to make names for themselves, and those who will want their names to go down well in history. So, they are fully prepared and will play to win,” Ekong said.

“Tomorrow may not be 100 per cent in our hands, but we try to do our best and win the match.”

Despite the travel setback that saw the team’s flight from Luanda, Angola, return after its windscreen cracked midair, Chelle revealed that the squad remains focused and motivated. He praised his players for maintaining a positive spirit despite the challenges.

Nigeria’s World Cup dream is hanging by a thread as they prepare to face group leaders Benin Republic in what could be a make-or-break encounter. The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C with 14 points from nine games, trailing Benin by three points and South Africa by one.

For Nigeria to secure an automatic qualification, they must defeat the Benin Republic and hope that South Africa fail to beat Rwanda in Mbombela. If Bafana Bafana win, the Eagles would still need a high-margin victory to edge into the play-off spot on goal difference.

Having missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Super Eagles are desperate to avoid back-to-back absences from football’s biggest stage, something that has never happened since their debut appearance in 1994.

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