Eric Chelle proud of Super Eagles after beating Gabon to reach African World Cup qualifiers playoff final

Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has praised his players for the hard-fought victory against Gabon on Thursday in the Africa World Cup qualifiers playoff semi-final.

The Super Eagles had to labour on the matchday but managed to secure a 4-1 win over the Panthers after extra time.

Speaking in his post-match interview, Eric Chelle applauded his players, stressing that he is proud of them.

“I’m very proud of these guys because every time, they stay focused on what I ask and what I want — and they show it on the pitch,” the Super Eagles coach said.

He continued, “Once again, the word for today was passion. During the team talk, it was about passion, working together, and having the same mindset. They did it.

“But the reality is that this is nothing yet, because in two days we have another game. Maybe after the second game, we will go home with a smile.”

Nigeria, after overcoming Gabon, will now take on D.R. Congo in the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That match will be played on Sunday, November 16.