The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2026 WCQ

  • 2026 WCQ: Chelle goes tough on Super Eagles in Uyo

    2026 WCQ: Chelle goes tough on Super Eagles in Uyo

    Determined to keep  the Super Eagles focus on  securing  another important three points in their bid for a ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Franco-Malian coach Sekou Chelle, has put a strong net   around  the  Nigerian  stars ahead of tomorrow’s  crucial Matchday 6  tie against  the visiting the Warriors of  Zimbabwe.

    The race to the  next summer’s  Mundial  has thrown up an interesting scenario  in Group C  following  the super Eagles  thrilling  2-0 away win  over Rwanda  in Kigali last Friday and  a win tomorrow in Uyo  would increase their point haul to  nine. And with  Benin and  South Africa  battling in Abidjan in another  group’s encounter , the Coach Chelle-led Super Eagles must claim a home win in order to take advantage  should the Cheetahs and Bafana Bafana cancelled themselves out.

    Yesterday, coach Chelle barred journalists and fans from the team’s first training session in Uyo and has since   imposed restrictions in and around the team’s camp at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene.

    Ahead of tomorrow’s decisive encounter against Zimbabwe, the Super Eagles  also had  with a closed-door session last  night at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

    Today,  the Super Eagles’ session will however  be opened for the mandatory 15 minutes as  the coaching crew strategizes for  tomorrow’s encounter.

    Meanwhile, the delegation of the Zimbabwean  national team have settled down in  Uyo ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matchday six encounter against the Super Eagles.

    Read Also: NFF name Eric Chelle as Super Eagles’ Head Coach

    A man 45-man delegation arrived the Victor Attah International Airport on Saturday afternoon and were  met on arrival by officials of the  Zimbabwe Embassy in Nigeria and Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

    The Warriors had  their first training at the practice pitch  of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium yesterday  and would  have their official  match training today  ahead  of the game tomorrow at the famous Nest of Champions.

    While he Brave  Warriors occupy bottom spot in Group C with three points from five games, the Super Eagles on Friday jumped to fourth position on the log  following that famous victory in Kigali.

    The top placed team in the nine African groups qualify for next year’s tournament in  the United States, Canada  and Mexico the four best placed runners-up will chase a possible further place at the finals.

  • 2026 WCQ: NPFL shifts Remo Stars, Lobi Stars clash over  Obassa, Bankole call-ups

    2026 WCQ: NPFL shifts Remo Stars, Lobi Stars clash over  Obassa, Bankole call-ups

    Remo Stars away game with Lobi Stars billed for Enugu this weekend has been postponed indefinitely at the instant of the Nigeria Premier Football League following letter written to the league body by the Management of the Sky Blue Stars.

    NationSport reliably gathered from those that should know that the league leaders wrote to the NPFL that their top two goalkeepers, Serge Obassa and Kayode Bankole,  have received invitation from the Benin Republic and Nigeria’s senior national team.

    Read Also: NFF to name Super  Eagles’ coaching crew at Chelle’s unveiling today 

    It was said that Remo Stars said they are without first team goalkeeper at present with their third choice Goalie down with a wrist injury.

    The NPFL has already notified Lobi Stars and other relevant bodies that the game would now be fixed for another date when both Goalkeepers would have rejoined their team from their international adventure.

  • 2026 WCQ: South Africa won’t underrate Lesotho, says Hugo Broos

    2026 WCQ: South Africa won’t underrate Lesotho, says Hugo Broos

    South Africa will chase a key win in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign when they welcome Lesotho to the Peter Mokaba Stadium for a Group C match on Friday evening, with kick-off at 6pm CAT.

    Bafana Bafana come into the match placed second in the group – level on seven points with surprise leaders Rwanda after four completed matchdays. They were last in action in this competition in June of last year, recording a 1-1 draw away to Nigeria, followed by a 3-0 home triumph over Zimbabwe.

    Hugo Broos’s side will be confident of keeping up the momentum built in their successful Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, which was wrapped up in November last year with back-to-back wins over Uganda (away) and South Sudan (home).

    However, the Belgian coach has warned against underestimating their opponents: “These are very important games, very tough games, because don’t underestimate Lesotho, maybe not on quality but on mentality.

    “It is a team that fights for 90 minutes for every metre and certainly when they play against South Africa, they will do one step more, I’m sure of it.”

    Lesotho, meanwhile, are in fourth place in Group C – just two points off the lead – and have notably held Nigeria away from home and beaten Zimbabwe thus far.

    Read Also: Abbas to turn sod  on NFF’s hostel, training pitches

    Coach Leslie Notsi sees this clash as an opportunity for his team to make a major statement: “We’re saying, ‘look, as a small footballing country, here’s an opportunity to progress, to go in there, and give it our all’. It’s an opportunity for our boys to improve, to get that international exposure, which I believe they cherish.

    “Our previous results in these qualifiers have been very encouraging. We go in there knowing that it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to give our all.”

    In head-to-head stats, South Africa and Lesotho have met in 13 matches across all competitions (including in the local-players-only African Nations Championship) since 1995.

    Bafana have claimed seven wins compared to three for Likuena, while three games have been drawn.

    The teams last met in the COSAFA Cup in July 2021, with South Africa claiming a 4-0 win in a group stage match in Port Elizabeth – featuring a hat-trick from Victor Letsoalo.

  • 2026 WCQ:  Amavubi complete second training session for  Super Eagles

    2026 WCQ:  Amavubi complete second training session for  Super Eagles

    Ahead of Friday’s  decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup  qualifier,  the Amavubi of Rwanda yesterday completed  their second training sessions under their new  Algerian tactician,  Adel Amrouche.

    According to the Rwandan FA, the training’s focus was on helping players overcome fatigue especially those who played with their various club sides before making the trip to join the rest of the team.

    The highly anticipated clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Rwanda’s Amavubi is set to take place at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali by 6pm on March 21. While Rwanda currently sit top of the World Cup qualifying group with seven points, they will still need to avoid a loss against the Super Eagles who are fifth with three points.

    Despite participating in the qualifying rounds several times, Rwanda have never succeeded in advancing to the World Cup. As such, the current crop of players will be highly motivated to make history by securing qualification to the global tournament in 2026 which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

    Read Also: NFF to announce new foreign coach for Super Eagles next week

    On the other hand, the Super Eagles are seeking to revive their World Cup qualification hopes after an underwhelming start which saw them draw three games and lose one.

    Six players including Victor Osimhen, Tolu Arokodare, Bruno Onyemaechi, Papa Daniel, Amas Obasogie, and Kayode Bankole have all arrived at the Eagles camp as well as assistant coaches and head coach, Eric Chelle.

    While Rwanda’s second training session was completed yesterday, the  six Super Eagles early birds  only underwent  workouts in the gym yesterday as other players are eagerly been awaited.