Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has commended his team following their 2-0 victory over Rwanda in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
The win marked Nigeria’s first triumph in the qualification series after five matches, lifting them to fourth place in Group C.
Victor Osimhen, making his first appearance in the qualifiers, delivered a first-half brace to secure the much-needed three points for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria started the game in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Osimhen leading the attack alongside Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman.
As the match progressed, Chelle adjusted the setup to a 4-3-3 and subsequently a 4-2-3-1, allowing Nigeria to control the game and finally secure a win on Rwandan soil after three previous failed attempts.
Following the victory, Chelle expressed his satisfaction with the team’s adaptability and commitment.
Chelle proud of Super Eagles tactical adaptation vs Rwanda
“We have a team with strengths and weaknesses, and my job is to develop a game plan that maximizes our potential,” Chelle said after the game
“We played with two or three different systems today, and I’m proud of how the players adapted. Congratulations to them.”
While celebrating the win, Chelle emphasized the need to focus on the next challenge against Zimbabwe.
“This was just the first game, and we need to keep improving. I’m happy for the win, but we must go back to work,” he stated.
“We have another game on March 25th, so we need to be ready.”
Nigeria will wrap up this round of qualifiers on Tuesday when they take on Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, aiming for another victory to boost their World Cup qualification hopes.
