Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has shed light on his touchline confrontation with South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos during their 2026 World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein.
The heated clash occurred in the second half at the Toyota Stadium, when both benches rose to protest refereeing decisions in a tense contest that eventually ended 1-1. Match officials had to intervene to calm tempers as players and staff tried to prevent the situation from escalating.
Reacting after the game, Chelle downplayed the incident, insisting it was part of the passion and pressure that comes with high-stakes football.
“There is tension. You can say something badly and sometimes you’ve to fight — not a real fight, but you need to manage it,” Chelle said in his post-match press conference. “Sometimes it is difficult because of the pressure. This is normal when both benches want to win. You know every decision of the referee, one of the benches isn’t agreeing with it. This is football.”
The draw in Bloemfontein left Nigeria with two points from their last two qualifying games, while South Africa maintained their push for a strong start in the group.
