Nigeria vs Benin: We are under pressure — Chelle admits to feeling the heat ahead of must-win World Cup qualifier

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has admitted that they are under pressure to qualify ahead of the final Group C game against leaders, the Benin Republic. 

Tasked with collecting six points in this international window to keep their qualification dreams alive, Chelle’s side secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Lesotho on away soil. 

They now have to beat the Benin Republic in Uyo and hope for favourable results elsewhere to qualify for next year's global showpiece. 

Speaking ahead of the game, Chelle admitted to feeling the pressure of the obligation to qualify. 

"We are still alive; maybe the journalists can do the mathematics for us," Chelle told the media after the Lesotho win, per ESPN. 

"We feel the pressure since March. Every time my players come to camp, they feel the pressure because it's important for Nigeria to be at the World Cup. We have a lot of pressure. This is not an explanation about our position; it is just the reality.”

Despite conceding an avoidable goal against Lesotho, a 1-0 victory against the Benin Republic could be enough to secure qualification. 

The scoreline will place both teams on a goal difference of +4, but Nigeria will advance because they scored an away goal in the 2-1 first leg defeat. 

However, that is heavily contingent on South Africa failing to beat Rwanda. Bafana Bafana only need to beat the Amavubi to eliminate Nigeria from the running.