By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 29, 2025

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has stressed that securing a 2026 World Cup ticket for Nigeria remains his top priority following the draw for the 2025 AFCON which was held on Monday in Morocco, The PUNCH reports.

Chelle was appointed as the new gaffer of the team some weeks ago and as he awaits his first game in charge of the team, the Franco-Malian is caught between reviving the country’s ill-fated 2026 World Cup qualifying series which resumes in March and leading the country to their fourth AFCON title when the tournament kicks off by December.

After the draw which placed the three-time Africa champions in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, Chelle, who attended the event in Rabat, was not to be carried away by the complexion of the group.

“There are no small teams in AFCON; you need to be focused,” Chelle told Pooja Media.

“As I’ve said before, my focus is on my players and March. We need to concentrate on the World Cup qualifiers first, and after that, in October, we can start thinking about AFCON. For now, we need to win two games in March.

“This is a draw, there are four teams and anyone in the AFCON can win the tournament but now I need to watch and work with my players on the two games in March against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.”

Nigeria risk missing out on the 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, following a disappointing start to their qualifying campaign.

After four matches, the three-time African champions sit in fifth place with just three points, four points behind leaders Rwanda, with six games left to play in the qualifying series.

March’s fixtures against the Amavubi in Kigali and Zimbabwe are crucial for Nigeria’s chances of securing a ticket to the global football showpiece, as victories in those games are expected to reignite their qualification hopes.

After the two games in March, the team will also regroup in September and October for their last four games in the Series before plotting their route to a fourth AFCON title in December.

Chelle’s Eagles will begin their quest for a fourth African title against Tanzania on December 23 at the Fez Stadium in Fez.

Four days later, they will face Tunisia at the same venue, before taking on Uganda’s Cranes on December 30.

The tournament will run from December 21 to January 18, 2026.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 29, 2025

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