Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has described tonight’s World Cup qualifier against the Benin Republic as the biggest test of his coaching career.

Nigeria face the Cheetahs at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium at 5 p.m. in Uyo later today, knowing that only a win will keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive.

Speaking at Monday’s pre-match press conference, Eric Chelle admitted that the weight of expectation on his shoulders is enormous but said he welcomes the pressure.

“For me, as a coach, it’s maybe the most important game of my career,” the Malian tactician said. “I’m happy, I’m excited, sometimes a little nervous but I like the pressure.”

Chelle, who took over as head coach earlier this year, is hoping to inspire a strong response from his players after a turbulent qualification campaign that has left Nigeria chasing from behind in Group C. The Super Eagles currently sit third in the group with 14 points, trailing South Africa and leaders Benin Republic.

Meanwhile, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman will play no part in the crucial fixture after receiving a yellow card in last week’s 2-1 victory over Lesotho.

Lookman was present at Monday’s training session but did not join the rest of the squad on the pitch. Instead, he watched from the sidelines, dressed in casual wear rather than training gear.

Chelle’s decision to exclude the winger from full training was seen as a precautionary move to avoid any eligibility issues.

It was reports that South Africa were recently punished by FIFA with a three-point and three-goal deduction after fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in March’s qualifier against Lesotho.

With Lookman unavailable, Chelle will be counting on the likes of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi to deliver a result that could shape Nigeria’s journey to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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Benin Republic head coach, Gernot Rohr, has made it clear that his return to Nigeria has nothing to do with emotions but everything to do with the business of securing a World Cup ticket.

The former Super Eagles manager, who now leads the Cheetahs of the Benin Republic, is just one step away from making history by guiding the tiny West African nation to their first-ever FIFA World Cup. Benin currently tops Group C with 17 points from nine matches, sitting above South Africa and Nigeria.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo ahead of Tuesday’s high-stakes clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Gernot Rohr said his focus is solely on his team’s qualification dream.

“I have a lot of friends in Nigeria, even in this team. Some of the players here are ones I brought into the squad,” Rohr said. “But this is not a moment for emotions or memories. The focus is on a big match, and we’ll all be there to witness it.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m., and the stakes couldn’t be higher. While Benin need only a draw to seal qualification, the Super Eagles must win by at least two goals to keep their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico alive.

Rohr, who coached Nigeria from 2016 to 2021, warned that his team is no stranger to tough away battles. Due to CAF’s stadium restrictions, Benin have played all their qualifying matches outside their home country.

“When you see that we played all the matches away, not one match at home,” Rohr explained. “We are used to playing away and having some finals. We also had it in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. We also had the last game very difficult in Libya under very special circumstances. Nigeria saw how it is there, and we won there in a very bad atmosphere.”

The 70-year-old German tactician believes that the experience of constantly playing on the road has toughened his squad and given them the mental edge to face Nigeria in Uyo.

“We go for a win but we know that we have to be patient and we know that Nigeria has only a chance if they win, so I believe it will be a very open match,” he added.

Despite the rivalry and tension surrounding the fixture, Rohr called for calm, reminding everyone that football should unite, not divide.

“It’s not a war, it’s a football game. Whatever the result will be, we will leave here and we will stay friends,” Rohr told reporters. “Now the moment for us is to be ready, to be relaxed and to have a good game tomorrow.”

With South Africa also set to face Rwanda in the group’s other fixture, Tuesday’s matches will decide who earns a direct ticket to North America next summer.

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The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde have made history as the second-smallest African nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 home victory over Eswatini sealed their place at the 2026 finals.

Cape Verde, playing in front of a packed 15,000-capacity National Stadium in Praia, topped their qualifying group ahead of continental giants Cameroon, sparking jubilant celebrations across the island nation.

Dailon Livramento opened the scoring early in the second half, reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the six-yard box. Minutes later, Willy Semedo volleyed home a second to give the home side breathing space. Veteran defender Stopira put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, completing a famous night for Cape Verde.

The win means Cape Verde, with a population of just under 525,000 people, will join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana as one of Africa’s representatives at the expanded 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Only Iceland (with 353,000 population when they qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia) have reached the tournament with a smaller population.

Cape Verde President Jose Maria Neves watched from the stands as the nation achieved what once seemed impossible. The atmosphere in Praia was electric, particularly after a tense first half in which Jamiro Monteiro and Livramento both came close to scoring but were denied by Eswatini goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala.

The result also served as redemption for the Cape Verdeans, who missed their first chance to qualify last week after a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Libya. They had fought back from two goals down before seeing a stoppage-time winner controversially ruled out for offside.

Their earlier 1-0 win over Cameroon in June had already placed them in pole position to qualify, and this time, they made it count.

Cape Verde Beneficiaries Of Expanded Quota, Continuity, and Commitment

Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto “Pico” Lopes, one of the team’s most experienced players, credited Africa’s expanded quota at the World Cup as a major factor in their success.

“Traditionally, it’s been difficult to qualify for the World Cup, especially in Africa where you had to finish first [in your group] to have a chance,” Lopes told the BBC before the Libya match. “This time, if you finish first, you’re in. The motivation to be first and hold on to that has been crucial.”

Cameroon, five-time African champions and regular World Cup participants, will now have to settle for the play-offs after finishing four points behind Cape Verde in Group D. The Indomitable Lions were held to a goalless draw at home by Angola in their final game.

Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, the island country has steadily developed a reputation for resilience and discipline on the football pitch. Their national team first appeared in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, reaching the quarter-finals on debut and repeating the feat a decade later in 2023.

Coach Bubista, a former international defender, has been central to that progress. Since taking charge in January 2020, he has built a cohesive, well-organised team known for its compact defending and fluid attack. His tactical consistency and calm leadership helped guide the Blue Sharks past stronger opponents, including Ghana and Egypt, during their recent Afcon campaigns.

The coach’s faith in the players paid off after the federation kept him in the job despite the team’s failure to qualify for this year’s Afcon in Morocco.

The success is even more remarkable given the challenges Cape Verde faces. With a modest domestic league of only 12 teams, the nation depends heavily on players from its diaspora. Many squad members were born or played abroad, often discovered through personal networks. In fact, Pico Lopes earned his first call-up after being contacted via LinkedIn.

Their top scorer in qualifying, Netherlands-born Livramento, plays for Casa Pia in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, while several others compete in mid-tier European clubs. Despite the lack of global stars, the squad’s unity and commitment have been their biggest strengths.

With the World Cup draw set for December 4 in Washington, DC, Cape Verde’s dream is only just beginning. A nation better known for its beaches and music is now on the football map, ready to take on the world.

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