Chelle: Nigeria Could Have Scored 10 Goals

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has bemoaned his teams wastefulness after they could only draw 1-1 with Zimbabwe in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Tuesday.

The Super Eagles created a whole host of chances in Uyo, but they had to wait until the 74th minute to breach Washington Arubis goal after Victor Osimhen headed home a cross from Ola Aina.

However, the hosts failed to hold onto their lead as Tawanda Chirewa capitalised on poor defending to equalise in the 90th minute and dash their hopes of claiming second place from Rwanda in Group C.

Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were particularly guilty of failing to take their chances in the first half and Chelle felt the West African giants should have put the game to bed by half-time.

What can I say about the first half? Normally, we could have scored 10 goals in the first half, he said. You make some mistake in the last technical skills and Zimbabwe comes to defend and stop the game.