What issues Eric Chelle must address before Nigeria's March WC 2026 qualifying matches

Nigeria will continue the cycle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying with a new manager Eric Chelle. The Ivory Coast-born former centre-back was appointed by the football federation at the start of 2025 and is meant to take the Super Eagles to the World Cup that will be hosted jointly by the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Nigeria is not necessarily enjoying its best form, as recent results have been inconsistent and at times straight-out disappointing. The Super Eagles were not great in terms of scoring output, and definitely not among the best teams for over 1.5 goals bets.

Besides the attack, there are other aspects that the newly-appointed coach has to figure out before the start of the qualifying matches. This article will go into further detail regarding the potential points of improvement, but first it will assess Nigeria’s qualification group and upcoming matches.

Nigeria’s March Schedule

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, Nigeria has been placed in CAF Group C together with South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho. The Nigerians are currently fifth in the group standings with three points after four matches and a record of three draws and one loss.

In March, the Super Eagles will go head-to-head with in-form Rwanda, currently placed second, away from home, before hosting last-placed Zimbabwe. The games are scheduled for March 19 and March 22 respectively.

To tackle these two games with success, there are certain things coach Chelle must work on before his debut.

Improve Consistency and Focus

One of Nigeria’s biggest problems in recent months has been the lack of consistency. The Super Eagles could defeat a solid Ghana side but then lose to Benin away or Rwanda at home.

Chelle, on his part, has to firstly worry about making the national team perform at a consistent level. For that, the 47-year-old manager will want his team to be well-prepared mentally and physically, focused at all times during the match. With many players active in Europe, their match fitness does not need to be questioned. However, they need to be motivated to show the same level of commitment and winning spirit for their national side.

Also, there should be no more games in which Nigeria controls the ball but barely creates any scoring chances and then loses the game due to a defensive mistake. There should not be matches when the Nigerians fail to capitalize on their better squad against smaller nations like Rwanda and Benin. 

Focus is a key point in sports, and football is no exception. With two do-or-die matches coming up for Nigeria, they cannot afford to slack off or slip up again.

Take Advantage of Talented Attackers

Nigeria undoubtedly has one of the best-equipped attacks in Africa. Victor Boniface, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi are all showing a great level at their clubs. 

However, when they are called up for the Super Eagles, it is like the fans see a store-brand version of those players on the pitch.

Eric Chelle has the important task to set up the team in a way that allows him to take advantage of the attacking talent. This means two things. First, finding the perfect attacking group that can start building chemistry together. And second, assuring that they are backed by a solid backline and a midfield that can easily deliver the ball up front.

It is a mystery how Boniface has just one goal for the national team. It is time that the Super Eagles were let out of their cages to spread their wings and fly high.

Settle on a core of best players

Manager Chelle will be tempted to try out all the promising players that he can call up as the boss of the Nigeria national team. But the official qualifying matches are not the best opportunity for experiments, especially considering the position the Super Eagles find themselves in – second from bottom in the qualifying group.

At first, the coach needs to settle on a core of 15-17 players that he can always count on. This should include a lineup of 11 players that mostly remains consistent, and their potential substitutes. The worst thing to do right now would be to toss players around in the hope that some combination will work out in the end.

Instead, Chelle must go for a proactive approach and pick his perfect lineup based on performances in training and current form, and then 
 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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