Chelle acknowledged that his team made mistakes during the game but maintained that Nigeria was the superior side on the pitch.
“We made some mistakes, but we were the better team. This is football. Right now, it’s difficult for me to analyze the game in detail, but we will review it later,” Chelle stated.
Nigeria initially took the lead and pushed aggressively for a second goal but failed to capitalize on their opportunities. This allowed Zimbabwe to score a crucial equalizer, further complicating Nigeria’s qualification campaign.
Despite defensive lapses, Chelle refrained from placing the blame solely on the defenders.
“I don’t want to blame the defenders,” he said, emphasizing that the responsibility for the result rested on the entire team.
The draw leaves Nigeria in a precarious position, sitting fourth in Group C with just seven points—six points behind leaders South Africa. With only a few games remaining, the Super Eagles must produce a dramatic turnaround in their performances if they hope to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.