Eric Chelle has said that his Super Eagles squad are not getting carried away by their recent Unity Cup success, as attention quickly shifts to international friendly against Russia and the return of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Footynaija.com reports.
The Super Eagles, who defeated Jamaica 5-4 after a penalty shootout at the Gtech Community Stadium on May 31 to retain the Unity Cup, are unbeaten under Chelle since his appointment in January 2025.
That win followed a solid performance on Wednesday when Nigeria beat Ghana 2-1 in the same competition. But Chelle is not satisfied yet.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s friendly clash with Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the Franco-Malian tactician sent a strong message. “Now we go to Russia, and our goal is to win every game. We’re not just travelling for a match — we’re going there to win,” Chelle told reporters, as quoted by Complete Sports.
Still riding the momentum of the Unity Cup victory, Chelle stressed the need for a winning mentality and focus ahead of what he called a new test. “Right now, I think we’re still in Jamaica — mentally, it feels like it because of how tough the game was. But we must now shift focus.”
The former Mali head coach, who replaced Austin Eguavoen in January following Nigeria’s poor run in the World Cup qualifiers, is fully aware of the task at hand.
The Super Eagles are currently fourth in Group C of the CAF qualifiers, with just 7 points from 6 matches. South Africa lead the group with 13 points, while Benin and Rwanda both have 8 points.
This leaves Nigeria with work to do, especially with tough qualifiers coming up in September. Chelle is hoping the friendly against Russia will be a good test of his squad’s mentality and structure. He believes the match in Moscow is more than just a warm-up.
“Playing away from home is never easy. That’s why we’re working on the mental side of things. That was my message to the players: we need to show the football world our mindset, our hunger.”
Russia, who have been suspended from all FIFA and UEFA competitions since 2022 due to international sanctions, are using this match to stay competitive. As reported by Soccernet, the Russian team is treating the game as a high-level test after a long period of international isolation.
For Nigeria, it is an opportunity to continue building confidence, test new options, and push forward under a coach who has brought a new energy since his arrival. Chelle has already guided the Eagles to wins over Ghana, Rwanda, and Jamaica.
The match against Russia kicks off on Friday, June 6 at the Luzhniki Stadium. Nigeria will return to Abuja after the game to prepare for the crucial World Cup qualifiers.