World Cup (Q): Chelle calls on Nigeria to start with intensity against Benin

Nigeria national team head coach Eric Chelle has urged Super Eagles players to start their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Benin with intensity if they are to secure what they need to qualify for the global tournament.

The Super Eagles kept their Group C hopes alive with a battling victory over Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa on Friday. After a timid first half, the Super Eagles were awarded a penalty early in the second stanza when Motlomelo Mkhwanazi handled a goal-bound effort from Moses Simon.

Captain William Troost-Ekong took on the responsibility and slotted the spot-kick into the bottom corner with precision. There was high drama in the final ten minutes when debutant substitute Akor Adams made it two for Nigeria with a fine strike.

However, Hlompho Kalake quickly pulled one back for Lesotho after goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili failed to hold on to a corner but they were not able to get the second.

‘We need to start the game with lots of intensity’

Speaking ahead of the do-or-die fixture, the Malian coach stressed the importance of getting off to a good start and needing to score more goals.

“We need to have our fans behind us to put a lot of pressure on this team. We are in Africa, so we need to put a lot of pressure on these guys. This is a World Cup qualifier, so this game starts when they put their feet in our country,” said Chelle as quoted by SABC Sports.

“First, we need to do the job on the pitch and we need to start the game with lots of intensity, lots of aggressiveness but like the captain said, we need to score some goals. So, we have once again a few training sessions to think about the game plan but in reality, this is the question about everybody, the players, the officials, the NFF, the commission and the fans.”

Nigeria currently third in Group with 14 points

He added: “For us we feel the pressure since March, every time my players come to camp, they feel the pressure because for Nigeria and for our team, we need to travel and we need to go to the World Cup.

“So, we have lots of pressure. This is not an explanation, this is reality, so now the other team, and maybe they will take our pressure too, so I’m happy about it. I’m very happy about that because playing a game without anything is not the same as football.”

With South Africa drawing 0-0 against Zimbabwe and Benin defeating Rwanda 1-0, Group C qualification will be decided on the final day. Nigeria will return home to host Benin at Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday.

The win left them third with 14 points, three fewer than leaders Benin, while South Africa remained second with 15 points. Rwanda’s defeat kept them fourth with 11 points.