I really feel sorry — Eric Chelle reacts after Nigeria's 'deserved' win against Congo

Despite Nigeria’s elimination from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, coach Eric Chelle took some pride in their 2-0 victory over Congo at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The win showcased the Super Eagles B’s tremendous potential, but after being seen as one of the favourites to go deep in the tournament, Chelle was left with mixed emotions.

“We showed our technical ability in the last part of the match, but we lost several balls before that,” Chelle reflected in his post-game presser.

“In any case, we played well. Our performance was great and we deserved to win the match.

"I really feel sorry because our last match was good, but the previous two matches had mistakes. We started at a high speed and had a lot of possession.”

Meanwhile, on a more positive note, former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick remains confident in the Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Chelle’s side sparked hope with a 3-0 win over Rwanda in March, but a draw against Zimbabwe stalled progress.

Speaking to Brilla, Pinnick said, “The truth is, never say never until the final whistle. I know Nigeria’s mentality.

In 2018, nobody gave us a chance. Cameroon were defending champions, Algeria were unbeaten in nearly 20 games, and Zambia were strong, but we qualified. That’s why I still keep the faith with this team.”

The Super Eagles resume their campaign next month, hosting Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 6, before travelling to face South Africa three days later.