Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has voiced his displeasure over the condition of the pitch at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa.

Arriving late in South Africa, Chelle lamented the team’s lack of preparation time, revealing they had only one training session before the encounter.

“We had no time to prepare for this game because we travelled and arrived late. So, we had just one training session,” Chelle told Super Sports. “Now we need to prepare on the pitch. We prepared mentally, but for sure, because of this pitch, we need to be ready mentally. And I’m very disappointed about this pitch. The two teams deserve a great pitch. South Africa play very well, they have a great team.”

Despite his concerns, CAF gave final approval for the match to proceed on the disputed surface. The Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana now face off in a high-stakes clash where the pitch conditions may yet play a decisive role.