Eric Chelle’s Plans in Jeopardy as Key Super Eagles Star Gets Injured Before 2026 WCQ
- Eric Chelle could be without a key Super Eagles star after he suffered an injury with his club
- Super Eagles face must-win matches against Rwanda and South Africa during the September break
- Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup could end if they fail to win the matches
Eric Chelle's woes may have compounded after a key player for the Super Eagles suffered an injury at his club days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Chelle is under pressure to deliver results for the Nigerian national team, particularly after the abysmal performance at the African Nations Championship.
Source: Twitter
Nigeria must win their remaining four matches and hope the result of other matches in the group favours them to stand any chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
Nwabali gets injured days before WCQ
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been forced off injured during Chippa United’s Premier Soccer League match against Richards Bay FC.
The goalkeeper was stretchered off in the 35th minute of the match and is now a doubt to feature for Nigeria in the two matches next month.
Second-choice goalkeeper Elson Sitthole replaced the Nigerian shot stopper and conceded in the 4th minute of the additional time in the first half, condemning Chippa to a defeat.
Chippa United are winless this season, having lost three and drawn one of their four games and face Orlando Pirates next before the international break.
Who should replace Nwabali?
There are high chances that the former Nigeria Premier Football League goalkeeper will not be fit in time to face Rwanda and South Africa.
Fans have begun the debate on who should replace him in goal for the two crucial matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo and Johannesburg next month.
As noted by the NFF, Chelle named three other goalkeepers in the 31-man preliminary squad: Amas Obasogie (Singinda Black Stars, Tanzania), Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece) and 16-year-old Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos, Nigeria).
Source: Getty Images
Fans have also called on the experienced Francis Uzoho to be called up, with Italy-based Maduka Okoye currently serving a suspension for illegal betting in Italy, as noted by Football Italia.
The manager is expected to announce his final 23-man squad this week, and fans are curious about who he will prefer to stay in goal for the crucial matches.
Chelle will be careful not to make mistakes as the two matches are defining for Nigeria's World Cup hopes and consequently his future as Super Eagles head.
Nigeria's best bet is that Nwabali’s injury is not serious, and like he did at AFCON 2024, when he returned to action in the following game despite being stretchered off.
South African star to miss World Cup qualifier
Legit.ng reported that Nigeria received a boost after it emerged that South African veteran Percy Tau was left out of their World Cup qualifier squad.
Tau, who recently moved to Vietnam, was left out by Hugo Broos in the preliminary squad and, as such, will not be in the final squad unless something drastic happens.
Source: Legit.ng
