Following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has revealed that the players were frustrated in the game, but also expressed relief that Nigeria is still in contention for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in the post-match Troost-Ekong acknowledged Lesotho’s performance while reinforcing the team’s determination:
“Lesotho played a great game. It was not easy to come here and we knew that from the start,” Ekong said.
“I can understand their frustration and disappointment because they put up a good fight. These kinds of games are never easy. The pressure on us has been there since March, maybe even from the start of the qualifiers. We just wanted to focus on ourselves.”
Ekong admitted the emotional stress of the match against Lesotho:
“It took us some time to come out of the changing room because there was frustration. We all want to do better, always. We have a team of guys with a winning mentality. They want to win and they want to be at the World Cup. We have said that for the last nine months.”
Looking ahead to the decisive clash against Benin Republic, Ekong emphasized the importance of finishing the job with conviction.
“We now have the opportunity against Benin in Uyo. We know we have to score a certain amount of goals and go in with the right mindset to win convincingly. It is going to be another big test but the team is ready. We have been working towards this moment for a long time. As the coach said, I am also very proud of this team and we will speak again on Tuesday night.”
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Reacting to his team’s performance, Chelle admitted there was pressure on his team and praised the players for overcoming tough circumstances:
“We are happy that we won the three points. We are still alive. Maybe the journalists can do the mathematics,” Chelle said.
“I am happy for my players. We want to congratulate them. We have been under pressure since March because we understand that for Nigeria, it is mandatory to be at the World Cup. That is the reality, not an excuse.
“Now, the other teams will be under pressure too, and I am very happy about that. Playing these kinds of matches is never easy.
“In the first half we were under pressure and missed something technically, but in the second half we got the job done. I am very proud of my guys and I always tell them that.”
He issued a rallying call to Nigerians:
“We need our fans behind us in Uyo. This is Africa and these are World Cup qualifiers. The game starts the moment they step into our country. First, we must do the job on the pitch.”
Nigeria next face Benin Republic in their final group match, Tuesday. Only a win for Nigeria and a draw for South Africa will guarantee the Super Eagles a place at the World Cup.
