Eagles gave their best in World Cup play-off, says Chelle

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle believes the team gave their best during the 2026 World Cup play-off, after their hopes of reaching the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico were dashed by DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.

DR Congo picked Africa’s ticket to next year’s FIFA World Cup play-off at the expense of Nigeria, after beating the Super Eagles 4-3 on penalties at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium.

Frank Onyeka had given Nigeria an early lead before they were pegged by a Meshak Elia equaliser before halftime.

The Super Eagles struggled into extra time against the Congolese before faltering in the shootout.

The defeat condemned Nigeria to a consecutive World Cup miss (2022 and 2026), but Chelle didn’t entertain a scrutiny of his stint with the Super Eagles so far.

“I think you have to ask the NFF and the commission,” Chelle replied when he was asked about the status of his job after the defeat.

“I did well. We worked and I try to give my best. We gave our best; the players and the officials,” he added.

Chelle was appointed as the Super Eagles coach in January and began to take charge of the ill-fated World Cup qualifying series in March.

The Franco-Malian coach took charge of six games during the series, winning four and drawing two.

Having missed out on automatic qualification, Nigeria needed to navigate the African play-off, where they beat Gabon 4-1 in extra time last Thursday before losing to DR Congo in the final.

Including their first tournament in 1994, the Super Eagles have qualified for six World Cups (1998, 2022, 2010, 2014 and 2018). The highest finish at the tournaments is the round of 16, which they achieved on their debut in 1994, 1998 and 2014.

They have failed to qualify for the 2006, 2022, and now the 2026 editions.

The 2025 AFCON is expected to be the next assignment ahead of Chelle and his men.

The three-time African champions were beaten in the final of the last edition in the Ivory Coast and will hope to secure a fourth continental title in Morocco, where the 35th edition of the tournament will be played from December 21 to January 19, 2026.