Eric Chelle has told his Super Eagles players there is no margin for error left in their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign — the Chelle six points Tanzania demand is maximum points from both legs of the double-header against the Taifa Stars, starting in Uyo on Friday. Speaking to the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of the first leg, the head coach said his squad must “work hard in these two matches and do everything to win” as Nigeria fight to keep their place at next year’s finals in sight. For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions.
Nigeria sit second in Group L with three points from two games, three behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, after beating Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo and then losing 3-0 away in Bissau in September. Tanzania are bottom with one point, but they are already assured of a place at the 2027 tournament as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda — which leaves only one qualification ticket available from the group, and Nigeria need it.
Chelle six points Tanzania: “banish the memory” of Bissau
Chelle made clear that the defeat in Bissau is the wound this double-header must heal. “It is important to sustain the hope, and all the players are in that mood to banish the memory of that defeat to Guinea-Bissau and show their true quality,” he said.
The Franco-Malian added that the mood in camp is right for the task ahead. “The spirit in camp is high and everyone is focused on achieving victory in both matches,” Chelle said.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi has echoed the same message, with the coach and his skipper both insisting that only a six-point haul will do. All 24 players in Chelle’s 24-man squad are now in camp in Uyo after the final arrivals joined on Wednesday, and the full group has trained together ahead of Friday’s 5pm WAT kick-off at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
What six points would do for Nigeria
Maximum points would lift Nigeria to nine and put real pressure on Guinea-Bissau, who face Madagascar in the group’s other Matchday 3 fixture tonight in Meknes. The return leg against Tanzania follows on Tuesday 17 November at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, and the group race then turns to the reverse fixtures — Guinea-Bissau host Madagascar the same night.
The stakes were underlined earlier in the week when former internationals warned the Super Eagles to treat both Tanzania games as must-win or risk missing the finals altogether. Chelle’s message is the same, only blunter: win twice, or the road to the Pamoja finals gets very steep indeed.
Tanzania arrive wounded but defiant
The Taifa Stars will be without Clement Mzize and Dickson Job, who have both withdrawn through injury, and captain Mbwana Samatta is not in their squad. But coach Miguel Gamondi has insisted his side are not scared of Nigeria’s big names, and Tanzania have already shown they can frustrate the group — they held Madagascar to a 1-1 draw in September and only lost 2-0 to Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria, meanwhile, must find goals without Victor Osimhen, who is recovering from knee surgery, and Samuel Chukwueze, who is still working his way back from hip surgery. That leaves Ademola Lookman as the main threat, with Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare — in red-hot form at Ajax — and Moses Usor all in line to share the goalscoring burden.
Former striker Brown Ideye has already urged calm over Osimhen’s absence, insisting the players called up must take responsibility. Chelle clearly agrees — and he has now put the target in writing. Six points, no excuses. Read the Nigeria vs Tanzania preview for team news, predicted line-ups and our prediction, and Complete Sports for the full Chelle quotes.
Photos: Wilfred Ndidi in Nigeria colours, Dmitry Pukalik / soccer.ru via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) — collage by SportsBuddy
