Former Nigerian international Garba Lawal has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite their challenging position in the qualifiers.
Speaking on the team’s situation, Lawal emphasized that there is no room for complacency and urged both players and stakeholders to approach the remaining fixtures with utmost seriousness.
“There is no room for complacency,” Lawal stated. “This is not about the NFF; it’s about Nigeria qualifying for the World Cup. Everyone must support the team.”
Lawal also acknowledged the pressure on new head coach Eric Chelle, who was appointed to steer the team out of a difficult situation. “Even if Mourinho or Ancelotti took this job, they would still feel the pressure. Our situation can make the coach to be afraid, but for him to be bold enough to take the job, it is something different.
It’s not every coach that will take this type of job. It takes courage to take on a role like this, given the current circumstances.”
The Super Eagles currently sit in fifth place in their group with three points from four matches and no wins. With six games remaining, they must win all to stand a realistic chance of securing qualification.
Nigeria resumes its World Cup qualifying campaign in March with an away game against Rwanda, followed by a home fixture against Zimbabwe.
Chelle’s Backroom Staff Announced
Eric Chelle will be accompanied by three backroom staff members:
Hadi Taboubi (Assistant Coach): The French Tunisian was Chelle’s assistant during his tenure with Mali’s national team.
Thomas Gornourec (Fitness Trainer): Gornourec, who holds a UEFA A License and a master’s degree, will focus on the players’ physical conditioning.
Jean-Daniel Padovani (Goalkeeper Trainer): Padovani brings specialized expertise to oversee the goalkeepers’ preparations.
Lawal concluded by acknowledging the difficulty of the task ahead but maintained hope, saying, “We have to win all six games which is difficult but not impossible.”
The road to the 2026 World Cup is daunting, but Nigerians will be counting on the Super Eagles to rise to the occasion.
