The Super Eagles’ failure to secure all three points against Zimbabwe in Tuesday’s Matchday 6 clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers (Group C) at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, has been attributed to poor game management and impatience, Completesports.com reports.
Chukwuma Akuneto, the Nigerian-born Oldham Athletic Club U19s coach, exclusively told Completesports.com from his London base that the three-time African champions’ disappointing 1-1 draw was due to their eagerness to win, which led to missed opportunities.
Akuneto admitted that while the Super Eagles played well, they failed to manage their lead effectively.
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: It’s Not Over Yet For Eagles –Onigbinde Reacts To Draw Vs Zimbabwe
“The Super Eagles were anxious in the game, apparently because it was a must-win match,” Akuneto said.
“But Zimbabwe were composed, confident, and relaxed. They stuck to their game plan professionally.”
Akuneto questioned why the Super Eagles could not close out the match despite leading with just a few minutes left.
“We didn’t manage to close the game when we were ahead with five minutes to go,” he lamented.
“I don’t think the Super Eagles played badly, but Zimbabwe played very well, one must admit.”
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: I’m Disappointed For My Players, Nigerians –Chelle
He also criticised the decision to introduce striker Victor Boniface after Victor Osimhen was forced off due to injury, suggesting that a midfielder would have been a better option to help protect Nigeria’s 1-0 lead.
“I don’t know why he brought on a second striker. He must have had his reasons, but I thought a more defensive-minded player would have been better for Osimhen.”
By Sab Osuji
15 Comments
Oga Chelle was being professional and ethical. But you must mix street wisdom to win matches. Five minutes? Bring on a midfielder for Osimhen. Two minutes pass, take out a striker and introduce a defender. Yes, defender. Time Dey go. No so we use common sense do Sam ooh!
Nothing spoil. Did na baptism of fire for Chelle. We go.
I think the SE played well, and were unlucky in the 90th minute. Even players I usually criticise like Ndidi played quite well. I only criticise him because he is so one-dimensional, in that his main skillset is defensive in nature with tackling and marking. But even Ndidi ventured into the penalty box yesterday, scuffing a shot wide. To be honest I wasn’t expecting him to score. He even tried at a long-range shot at goal that to be honest was pathetic. Nevertheless, I can’t fault his defensive play yesterday.
The coach has so far earned my respect. He attempted to make the SE less predictable by incorporating Simon, Lookman, and Chukwueze in his forward line. I will suggest that next time he plays Simon through the middle or rotate positioning with Lookman.
Chelle’s substitution were timely in both matches making his first in the 60th minute, and adding further substitutions at 10 minute intervals afterwards.
My main gripe with the players:
Slow transitions from defense to attack – Ndidi, Aina, Osayi
Holding on to the ball too long – Lookman, Simon, Chukwueze
Too quick to shoot: Lookman
Selfish play – Lookman, Osayi
Poor crossing – Simon, Osayi, Chukwueze
We need to improve our set pieces because sometimes you can only score with freekicks and corners. Although the Eritrean referee was very miserly in giving free kicks.
Another area is ‘give and go’ or combination play by threading the ball between opposition players. The Zimbabwe goal was a classic in this type of play. They threaded the ball first between Lookman and Boniface then between Osayi and Ndidi , then forced Ekong to misplace his challenge on the goalscorer.
The goal to be honest was Ekong’s fault he should have cleared the ball.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel of this qualifying series for the SE?
It was always going to be an uphill task to extract maximum 6 points from this round of qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
For me, 4 points and a decent pattern of play from Chelle’s Super Eagles is mildly commendable. Afterall his 2 predecessors could only muster a shameful 3 points from 4 matches in this series.
That said, I have a minor criticism of this coach in the painful 1:1 draw against Zimbabwe.
“I think in the last 10 minutes it was hard for us because we did well in the first half with a lot of intensity so maybe the players were a little tired.” Said Coach Chelle.
Voilà!
The Super Eagles took the fight to Zimbabwe early in the match with a barrage of dangerous chances which eventually bore fruit late with great hold up play from the impressive Arokodare to Aina’s otherworldly cross and Osihmen’s sublime finish from close range to cement his burgeoning reputation as Nigeria’s saviour when all else fails.
The players looked drained to me at that point and I don’t think Coach Chelle did quite enough to adjust their formation in addressing the fatigue that had clearly set in.
That said, well done to the coach and the players. We started the day second to bottom with meagre 3 points. We now have 7 massive points and have moved up a slot on the table.
But, I doubt it will be enough to salvage our fading world cup qualification hopes. And, looking at teams already in the second position play-offs with 10, 12 points, it seems laughable to expect us to even make the intercontinental playoffs.
It’s not looking good all round.
But we take the positives.
Osihmen is undoubtedly a megastar, Arokodare offers something different and the Super Eagles know how to create generous goal scoring openings.
But persistent problems linger.
The team is horrendous in not being able to covert copious goals scoring chances; opposition teams are still able to frustrate the Super Eagles; our defence is porous, chaotic and riddled with error prone centre backs; our defensive midfield infrastructure is dilapidating; and our attacking midfield lacks enough ingenuity; we often struggle to kill off opponents.
If those structural eyesores and personnel problems can be addressed on the pitch, then we should be able to complete this qualification series in a save-face manner even if we fail to qualify for the world cup.
WE WILL BE IN USA/ MEXICO/CANADA.
SA will be docked 3 points and Nigeria will qualify by winning the rest 4 matches.
However, the team must stop playing it’s home matches in Uyo. Perhaps if the name is changed.
Hahahahaha…delusions of gradeur. It started with we will win the remaining 6 matches…..LMAOoo….we haven’t even reached midway of the 6 and we already dropped points. Now it is ” we will win the remaining 4″
Helloo….SA would still be 4 points ahead of Nigeria if docked 3 points. Now they got 4 “home” games left vs Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Nigeria and Lesotho.
Lets even In our wildest dreams assume we will win SA in Johannesburg or wherever they will take the came to, you also think this SA team that has lost only one game in near 20 matches under Broos will fail to win the other 3 home games….?????
I don’t see us defeating SA away, and even if we do, they would still have one point more than us. They have a damn good and cohesive TEAM, a good coach and more things than 1 going well for them. They even have the Mostsepe trump card which they have not even used yet and do not look like using anytime through this qualifiers.
Can Nigerians just drop this their culture of lying to themselves for a culture of realism?
Bros you are a bloody liar..SA has 2 away games and 2 home games including the one against Nigeria.if they are docked 3 points, they will be leading us with 3 points….I said it, you are an old and daft person.
Stop using name here lol
SA is away to Lesotho next match, They welcome Nigeria in the next game. Fly to Zimbabwe third game and is at home to Rwanda for the last game…….Why would u lie?
Dr Drey, SA is currently on 13 pts and Nigeria 7 points. If Lesotho’s petition is successful, they’ll be back on 10 points, and Lesotho will be awarded the 3 points. It will throw the group open again.
Yes, we’ve lost points and have diabolically failed to win any home matches in this WCQ, but you’ll admit the general play is better. At least Chelle got 4 pts out of 6, whereas Paseiro could only muster 2 out of a possible 6, and Finidi dropped a massive 5 points!
How many WCs did Nigeria qualify for before the final match? 1994? 2018? In 1994, we needed to win away in Algeria, and we needed to. The fans and coaches all had their hearts in their mouths until the final whistle.
Yes, I know you like to be ruthlessly realistic, but I’ll prefer to keep hope alive against all hope. It all feels lost and gloomy now, but the sweetest victory or qualification is the one that feels like a miracle achieved at the 11ht hour.
We just need to hear FIFA’s feedback on Lesotho’s petition to revive hope again. So fingers crossed.
I feel NFF signed a secret contract with some half players ( not play with high energy and commitment) so not able to stop calling them.
Only players I see good to build future team around him Osimhen.
Football could be cruel sometimes. The better team doesn’t always win. We actually played well over the two matches. I respect what Chelle is trying to do. He is ambitious. I just hope he learns from this and be ‘pragmatically ambitious’.
That said, as unfortunate it may be, I believe SA will qualify for the World cup even if we beat them. They are practically playing the rest of the games at ‘home’. It would take a miracle for them to drop the ball.
Our chances are slim but probable. We just have to focus on winning our games and qualify through the playoff. It’s a tall order but doable.
On a side note, I have to agree with @Kel. I think we should quit playing in Uyo. I feel we are either jinxed (like we are in Abuja), or we are just too comfortable over there to win matches. I wish Lagos has a befitting stadium like that in Uyo, it would be the perfect ground.
The home game Zimbabwe will play with SA will like be played in Harare. Renovation of the stadium is ongoing.
SA will be deducted 3points and they will drop to 10points.
However, I can’t see this SE winning her four remaining matches.
But in football anything can happen, and if does that will be the biggest miracle in Nigeria football.
Zimbabwe is presently playing in Rwanda not in South Africa is only Lesotho that plays in South Africa. I didn’t watch the match live but watched replayed in a more relaxed environment. I was wondering whether those criticizing almost all the players watched the back of TV. Let us tell ourselves the truth we were unfortunate to draw the match we completely dominated the match and all the players performed very well except few that may have not played to their potentials. The future looks bright with what this coach is doing. We may have a great tournament in next nations cup. Let us concentrate on winning the rest of the matches and see if we can get into play-off though not looking good cos most group have second placed team already in 12 points. We should be at the world-cup but even if we don’t life goes on. Well-done our great players am proud of you guys you gave your best. I go with Hush we may consider taking our remaining games back to lagos this Agbabio stadium is jinxed.
For me, gone are the days when I would blame only coaches and players for bad results.
Now, most if not all my blame is on our officials.
If our officials were competent, everything else will fall into place. We would have the best coach our money can buy, we would have only the best of the best players invited to camp, and the results would have been good. I have no doubt about that.
But how can we make progress in a corrupt, chaotic, grossly incompetent dispensation?
Let me hear any of these officials say they want to fire Chelle. Let them dare!
If they try it, then we will have to insist that they follow him out the door.
Even if we fail to qualify for a second consecutive world cup, if we can jettison these guys from the Glass House, I’ll take that as a big step in the right direction. Then, we can build from there.