Chelle urges Nigeria to embrace pressure before Madagascar qualifier

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle says the Super Eagles must accept the pressure surrounding their opening qualification match against Madagascar and use the game to establish momentum for the campaign. Speaking at a pre-match conference, Chelle said pressure was an unavoidable part of leading the national team. He said Nigeria’s task was not to escape it but to deal with it as part of their responsibility.

The coach stressed the importance of starting well, referring to Nigeria’s poor beginning in the previous World Cup qualifying campaign. He said the opening match was crucial because a positive result and performance could provide confidence for the remaining fixtures. Nigeria are scheduled to begin their campaign at home against Madagascar.

Chelle described Madagascar as a major challenge, recalling the island nation’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He said the match would require the team to be ready for a contest and challenged his players to show the mentality and intensity expected of them. He also said the squad had enough depth to cope with injuries, although he would have preferred all affected players to be available.

Udinese defender Maduka Okoye arrived later than expected after his club requested that he attend an event, and Chelle said he would manage the situation and make the necessary decisions. The coach said his players were motivated and had a good state of mind, framing the fixture as a test of mentality as well as the result.