Top 5: Super Eagles’ best & worst games of 2025-26 season – Algeria, South Africa make list

Since August 2025, the Super Eagles have played 20 matches across FIFA World Cup qualifiers, international friendlies and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, excluding their CHAN fixtures, Afrik-Foot reports.

Under Eric Chelle, Nigeria recorded 13 victories, five draws and only two defeats. Two of the draws eventually ended in penalty shootout losses, while the team scored 40 goals and conceded 17. The Super Eagles found the net in 18 of those 20 matches and kept eight clean sheets during an impressive campaign that included a 12-match unbeaten run.

From dominant AFCON performances to crucial World Cup qualifying victories and painful knockout exits, several matches stood out for different reasons. Here are the five best and three poorest performances from Nigeria’s 2025-26 season.

Algeria 0-2 Nigeria (AFCON quarter-final)

Few expected Nigeria to eliminate Algeria in a hostile North African atmosphere, but the Super Eagles produced one of their most disciplined displays of the Chelle era.

Playing in front of a passionate Algerian crowd, Nigeria absorbed intense pressure in the opening stages but soon reclaimed the momentum. Wilfred Ndidi and Raphael Onyedika shielded the defence brilliantly while William Troost-Ekong marshalled the backline.

After missing several chances in the first half, Victor Osimhen, one of Nigeria’s best, broke the deadlock with a fine header midway through the second period after a swift attacking move. Algeria pushed forward after going behind but Nigeria’s total football proved devastating.

Akor Adams sealed the victory with a clinical finish after excellent work from Osimhen and Alex Iwobi to carve open the Algerian defence. The 2-0 win secured a place in the AFCON semi-finals and demonstrated the tactical maturity that Chelle had built into the team.

Nigeria 4-1 Gabon (World Cup qualifier)

Nigeria entered the match knowing anything less than victory would seriously damage their World Cup qualification hopes.

The Super Eagles responded with one of their most complete attacking displays of the season. Alex Iwobi controlled the tempo from midfield while Ndidi dominated the central areas. Nigeria attacked relentlessly from the first whistle and repeatedly exposed Gabon’s defensive weaknesses. However, poor finishing left the game goalless until Akor Adams broke the deadlock on the hour mark after a defensive Gabonese error.

But Gabon equalised deep into stoppage time to force extra time, which allowed the Super Eagles to score three more goals through Victor Osimhen (brace) and Chidera Ejuke. The result reignited Nigeria’s qualification campaign and restored confidence among supporters.

Nigeria 4-0 Benin (World Cup qualifier)

Both Benin and Nigeria still had high hopes of overtaking group leaders South Africa with a win heading into this final fixture.

Nigeria came out aggressively and immediately pinned Benin inside their own half. The high press forced repeated mistakes, while Akor Adams and Osimhen constantly troubled the opposition defence. The floodgates opened as early as the third minute with a brilliant goal from Osimhen, who ended up with a fine hat-trick.

The Super Eagles scored four unanswered goals and never allowed Benin an opportunity to settle into the contest. It remains the joint-biggest win of the Chelle era so far. However, Nigeria missed out on an automatic ticket for the World Cup, eventually settling for a continental playoff spot.

Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia (AFCON group stage)

This was arguably the most entertaining match Nigeria played during the Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Played in Fez, Morocco, the fixture effectively decided top spot in the group.

After struggling to edge past Tanzania in their tournament opener, the Super Eagles were expected to face a tough battle against one of North African’s heavyweights.

However, the Super Eagles threw that boring script out of the window and raced to a three-goal lead after outclassing the Tunisians. Cute headers from Osimhen and Wilfred Ndidi (both from Ademola Lookman-delivered assists) set the tone of the evening before the then-Atalanta man fired home a stunning third.

Tunisia responded with two late goals, though, but the despite late pressure from the Carthage Eagles, Nigeria held on for a dramatic 3-2 victory.

Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique (AFCON Round of 16)

The first knockout round often presents difficult challenges, but Nigeria removed all doubt with a commanding display.

Played in Fez, the Super Eagles overwhelmed Mozambique from the opening minutes. Victor Osimhen led the attack brilliantly, scoring twice, while Lookman and Adams also got on the scoresheet as Nigeria produced wave after wave of dangerous attacks.

The movement between midfield and attack was exceptional, while quick passing combinations consistently opened up Mozambique’s defence.

By the final whistle, Nigeria had delivered one of the most convincing knockout victories of the tournament and announced themselves as genuine title contenders.

Three worst Super Eagles games of the season

Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo (3-4 on penalties): World Cup play-off final

Everything was on the line. Victory would have kept Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.

Frank Onyeka gave the Super Eagles the perfect start with an early goal, but the advantage failed to inspire confidence.

Meschack Elia equalised for DR Congo, and Nigeria struggled to regain control of the match afterwards.

The midfield lost rhythm, attacking creativity disappeared and the team looked increasingly nervous as the contest progressed.

After 120 minutes, the game went to penalties, where DR Congo prevailed 4-3. The defeat effectively ended Nigeria’s World Cup dream and became the most painful result of the entire campaign.

South Africa 1-1 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup qualifier)

This was the decisive Group C showdown in Bloemfontein. Nigeria needed victory to close the gap on Bafana Bafana and take control of their qualification destiny.

Instead of rising to the occasion, the Super Eagles delivered one of their flattest displays.

At Toyota Stadium, captain William Troost-Ekong accidentally turned the ball into his own net to hand South Africa the lead. Calvin Bassey restored parity before halftime, but Nigeria never built momentum after the break.

The attack lacked urgency, chances were scarce and South Africa comfortably protected the draw. The result left Nigeria six points behind the group leaders and pushed them towards the difficult play-off route.

Nigeria 0-0 Morocco (2-4 on penalties): AFCON semi-final

A place in the AFCON final was within touching distance of the Super Eagles but they could not find the extra inspiration to drag themselves over the line

Facing tournament hosts Morocco in Rabat, Nigeria adopted an extremely cautious approach that limited their attacking threat throughout the match.

Victor Osimhen spent long periods isolated up front as the Super Eagles focused primarily on defending.

Nigeria committed 29 fouls and managed only one shot on target across 120 minutes. While the defensive organisation kept Morocco at bay, the lack of ambition frustrated supporters.

The inevitable penalty shootout ended in a 4-2 defeat, bringing Nigeria’s AFCON title dream to an end and leaving many wondering whether a more adventurous approach could have produced a different outcome