The Super Eagles are reportedly 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, with the match scheduled for 5 p.m. today. Nigeria’s World Cup dream is currently hanging by a thread, making this encounter against the group leaders a potential make-or-break affair as the team desperately seeks to avoid back-to-back absences from football’s biggest stage for the first time since their 1994 debut.
Head coach Eric Chelle has assured Nigerian fans 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,” Chelle told reporters, acknowledging the nervous excitement surrounding the fixture. Team captain William Troost-Ekong mirrored the coach’s determination, emphasizing the squad’s readiness and the ambition driving the players. He noted, “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.” He added that while the qualification scenario may not be 100 per cent in their hands, their focus remains solely on securing the victory.
The squad’s resolve is particularly impressive given the recent travel setback they experienced, which saw the team’s flight from Luanda, Angola, return mid-air after its windscreen cracked. Coach Chelle praised his players for maintaining a positive spirit despite the challenges, ensuring they remain focused and motivated for the task ahead.
The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C with 14 points from nine games, trailing the Benin Republic by three points and South Africa by one. For Nigeria to secure an automatic qualification spot, they must defeat the Benin Republic and simultaneously hope that South Africa fail to beat Rwanda in Mbombela. Should Bafana Bafana win their match, the Eagles would require a high-margin victory to potentially edge into the play-off spot on goal difference, underlining the absolute necessity of a positive result today.
