Eric Chelle Hails Osimhen, Calls Him ‘Best Striker In The World’

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Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, heaped praise on his players after the Super Eagles’ 4-0 demolition of Benin Republic in Uyo, singling out Victor Osimhen as “the best striker in the world.”

Naija News reports that the Super Eagles were in ruthless form at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, with Osimhen bagging a superb hat-trick before Frank Onyeka’s late strike wrapped up a convincing win. The result secured Nigeria’s spot in next month’s CAF Playoff Tournament in Morocco, keeping their 2026 World Cup dream alive.

After the match, Chelle could not hide his admiration for his squad’s character and composure in a high-pressure game.

“I’m so proud of my players,” the coach said. “They deserved this game because it was not easy with a new coach and a new philosophy to adapt to. So tonight I’m just happy for my players. They played a great game two hours ago, and they also played a great game three days ago.”

Chelle was full of praise for Osimhen, who now has 29 goals in 44 appearances for Nigeria, moving closer to breaking the late Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing record as the country’s all-time top scorer.

“I love him. He is the best striker in the world,” Chelle said, drawing applause from the media. “But I’m proud of all the players because everybody brought something to this team. I’m especially proud of my captain because he scored a great penalty in the last match. They all gave everything.”

The Franco-Malian coach, who took charge midway through the qualifiers, said the win was only a step on a long journey, stressing that the hardest part is still ahead.

“This is not finished. This is the beginning. It will be very, very difficult. Now we go to Morocco and we have a lot of work to do,” he said.

Chelle also took a moment to appreciate the fans, whose energy in the stands helped lift the team’s performance.

“I’m happy for the fans because they brought us the victory. They started to help us, to push us, to take this victory,” he added.

The coach credited his team’s unity for their recent turnaround, saying the players’ spirit and sense of responsibility made the difference.

“All the players gave everything,” Chelle said. “For me, they are my champions. Football is like that. Sometimes you make mistakes and lose, but they love the country and always give everything.”

He described the team as a family built on mutual respect and trust. “Sometimes I make mistakes too, but you can ask the captain and the players, we are a family. If we win, we win together,” he said. “If we lose, we take it together.”

With confidence restored and momentum back on their side, the Super Eagles will now prepare for the CAF Playoff Tournament scheduled for November 13-16 in Morocco.

Nigeria will compete in a four-nation battle for one of Africa’s remaining slots in the intercontinental playoffs. The winners will go on to face teams from Asia, Oceania, and the Americas for a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

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