Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has admitted that his team made costly mistakes in their 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe but insists they were the better side on the pitch.
The result dealt another blow to Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes, leaving them fourth in Group C with just seven points—six behind leaders South Africa.
“We made some mistakes, but we were the better team on the pitch. This is football. Right now, it’s difficult to analyze, but we will review it later,” Chelle said during the post-match press conference.
Nigeria had taken the lead and pushed for a second goal but squandered key opportunities, allowing Zimbabwe to equalize and snatch a crucial point.
Despite defensive lapses, Chelle refused to blame his defenders, emphasizing that responsibility lay with the entire squad.
“I don’t want to single out the defense. This was a team effort,” he added.
With qualification now hanging in the balance, the Super Eagles must deliver a dramatic turnaround in their remaining fixtures to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
