2026 WC Qualifiers: NFF To Decide Chelle’s Future, Says NSC Chair Dikko

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has clarified that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) volition determine the destiny of Super Eagles’ caput coach, Eric Chelle, amid mounting disapproval implicit the Super Eagles’ stuttering 2026 World Cup qualification campaign

Speaking connected Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ connected Monday, Dikko stressed that the NSC’s relation is constricted to providing enactment portion the shot federation holds the authorization to measure Chelle’s performance.

“Eric Chelle is the work of the Nigeria Football Federation to decide. At the extremity of the day, aft they finish, they’ll bash the analysis, and past they volition urge to us, and past we look astatine it, we o.k. oregon disapprove, oregon we prosecute to bash that,” Dikko explained.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s precarious presumption successful the qualifiers, Dikko insisted that Chelle had managed to stabilizs the squad since his assignment successful January 2025.

“As for the World Cup, we each cognize wherever we are. When we came connected board, we lone had 3 points retired of 12, but present we person been capable to, astatine slightest with Eric Chelle, the NFF, propulsion ourselves together. Now, we person 8 points successful different 4 games. If we had gotten these results before, probably, we could person been preparing to suffice for the World Cup,” helium noted.

LEADERSHIP reports that Nigeria presently sits 3rd successful Group C with 11 points, six points adrift of leaders South Africa (17 points) and 3 down Benin. With lone 2 matches left, the Super Eagles’ qualification hopes are slim aft a disappointing 1-1 gully with South Africa successful Bloemfontein connected September 9, wherever an ain extremity by skipper William Troost-Ekong and an equaliser from Calvin Bassey dashed Nigeria’s chances of securing maximum points.

Dikko admitted that Nigeria’s destiny was nary longer successful its ain hands but urged optimism.

“Based connected the numbers, it’s retired of our hands. So we conscionable person to triumph our adjacent 2 games and spot what happens due to the fact that it’s football; idiosyncratic has to suffer for you to qualify. So, we person to triumph our adjacent 2 games and spot wherever it takes us. But we are inactive hopeful. Anything tin happen,” helium said.

He besides highlighted the NSC’s committedness to backing the nationalist team, “As a commission, we did each we had to bash to support. For the past crippled we played, the National Sports Commission chartered a flight, paid for hotels, and made the bonuses available.”

Meanwhile, vexation continues to equine successful shot circles. Former Super Eagles skipper John Mikel Obi called for sweeping changes astatine the NFF if Nigeria fails to suffice for the 2026 World Cup.

“If Nigeria doesn’t suffice for the World Cup, the full NFF committee has to go… It’s unacceptable,” Mikel declared connected his Obi One Podcast.

Nigeria volition look Lesotho connected October 8 earlier rounding disconnected their qualifiers against Benin Republic on October 11.