Despite another frustrating setback in Bloemfontein, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle insists Nigeria’s World Cup hopes are far from over.

The three-time African champions were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on Tuesday evening, leaving their qualification path in a difficult position. Nigeria now sit third in Group C with 11 points from eight matches, six adrift of table-toppers South Africa.

Speaking after the match, Chelle acknowledged the disappointment but urged fans not to lose faith.

> “My players are professionals, and I know they’ll fight for victory in the remaining two matches. A lot can happen over the next month, but we must reflect on tonight’s performance,” the coach said.

The Super Eagles will travel to Lesotho when qualifiers resume in September before hosting Benin Republic in what could be a decisive final group game.

Chelle believes that with focus and determination, the Super Eagles can still turn their campaign around and book their ticket to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.