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Following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong revealed that the players were frustrated with the match, but also expressed relief that Nigeria is still in contention for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in the post-game Troost-Ekong recognized Lesotho’s performance and reinforced the team’s determination:
“Lesotho played a great game. It wasn’t easy getting here and we knew that from the beginning,” Ekong said.
“I can understand their frustration and disappointment because they put up a good fight. These types of games are never easy. The pressure on us has been there since March, maybe even since the start of the playoffs. We just wanted to focus on ourselves.”
Ekong admitted the emotional stress of the match against Lesotho:
“It took us a little while to get out of the locker 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 in the World Cup. We’ve been saying that for the last nine months.”
Ahead of the decisive clash against Benin Republic, Ekong stressed the importance of finishing the job with conviction.
“Now we have the opportunity against Benin in Uyo. We know that we have to score a certain amount of goals and go in with the right mentality 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 talk again on Tuesday night.”
Also read: The Super Eagles arrive safely in Uyo after a technical delay in mid-flight
Reacting to her team’s performance, Chelle admitted that there was pressure on her team and praised the players for overcoming difficult circumstances:
“We are happy to have won the three points. We are still alive. Maybe the journalists can do the math,” Chelle said.
“I am happy for my players. We want to congratulate them. We have been under pressure since March because we understand that it is mandatory for Nigeria to be in the World Cup. That is the reality, not an excuse.
“Now, the other teams will also be under pressure and I am very happy about that. Playing these types of games is never easy.
“In the first half we were under pressure and we failed technically, but in the second half we did the job. I’m very proud of my boys and I always tell them that.”
He appealed to Nigerians:
“We need our fans to support us in Uyo. This is Africa and these are World Cup qualifying matches. The game starts the moment they enter our country. First, we must do the job on the pitch.”
Nigeria will face Benin Republic in their final group match on Tuesday. Only a victory for Nigeria and a draw for South Africa will guarantee the Super Eagles a place in the World Cup.
