Chelle, Finidi, or Peseiro: Who should take the blame if Nigeria misses the 2026 World Cup?

Malian tactician, Eric Chelle, has taken one of the toughest jobs as Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign hangs by a thread, Soccernet.ng reports.

Meanwhile, as Nigeria sit at the second bottom of the Group C standings, it’s time to ask the tough questions—who is truly responsible for the mess?

So far, the Super Eagles have managed just three points from a possible 12, sitting fifth in the qualifying group. It’s a shocking reality for a team ranked 44 in the World and fifth in Africa.

How Did Nigeria Get Here?

It all started under Jose Peseiro, who failed to secure wins against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, settling for two disappointing draws—one at home in Uyo and the other on neutral ground.

Finidi George then stepped in but fared no better, picking up just one point from two crucial games—a home draw against South Africa and a morale-damaging loss to Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic.

Now, the responsibility falls on the Franco-Malian tactician, Chelle, who is tasked with reviving Nigeria’s qualification hopes.

With four games left, he faces a daunting task to secure the only automatic ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Can Chelle Turn Things Around?

Chelle’s first test will be to correct the mistakes of his predecessors and find a winning formula. The Super Eagles cannot afford any more slip-ups if they hope to avoid missing their second consecutive World Cup.

But as the blame game continues, Chelle and his Super Eagles team are currently gearing up to secure all points when they lock horns the Wasps of Rwanda on Friday at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali.