Nigeria vs Zimbabwe: Expert calls out ‘overthinking’ Super Eagles coach Chelle after World Cup disaster

A Nigerian football expert is not happy with some of the decisions made by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle before and during the disastrous outing against Zimbabwe in the 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup aspirations suffered a devastating blow after a lacklustre 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at home, prompting sharp criticism from renowned Nigerian photojournalist and football expert Poojamedia. 

The Super Eagles, under the guidance of coach Eric Chelle, squandered two vital points against the bottom-of-the-table Warriors, leaving their qualification hopes dangling by a thread.

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With only seven points from their first six matches in the qualifying campaign, Nigeria now trails group leaders South Africa by a daunting six points. 

The disappointing result at home, a venue where the Super Eagles were expected to dominate, has sparked frustration among passionate fans and analysts, with Poojamedia pointing the finger squarely at Chelle’s tactical missteps.

The match began with a dull first half that ended goalless, as Zimbabwe’s resolute defending stifled Nigeria’s attack. 

The second half appeared to be heading down the same uninspired path until Chelle introduced Genk forward Tolu Arokodare. 

The substitution injected life into the Super Eagles, with Arokodare’s intelligent hold-up play creating space for Ola Aina to deliver a pinpoint cross. 

Victor Osimhen, who struggled to be serviced all game, rose highest to head Nigeria into the lead, igniting hopes of a much-needed victory.

However, the lead proved fragile. Zimbabwe nearly equalised when Terrence Dzvukamanja struck the crossbar with the goal at his mercy, a let-off that should have spurred Nigeria to secure the game. 

Instead, the Super Eagles squandered a golden opportunity to extend their advantage, with Wilfred Ndidi fluffing a gilt-edged chance. Zimbabwe’s persistence paid off late in the match, snatching a dramatic equaliser that silenced the home crowd and dealt a hammer blow to Nigeria’s World Cup dreams.

In the aftermath, Poojamedia took to X to vent his frustration, slamming Chelle for what he described as “overthinking” and poor decision-making. 

“Ola Aina was doing wonders at RB at Nottingham Forest - moved to LB. [Frank] Onyeka doing wonders in Germany - Not called. Needed more bodies at the back at 80 mins - He continued to bring offensive players. Guess what all the assistants were doing. Overthought everything,” he posted, highlighting a series of perplexing choices that undermined the team’s performance.

The criticism underlines the growing concerns about Chelle’s management as Nigeria’s campaign falters. Aina’s positional switch from his natural right-back role, the omission of in-form midfielder Onyeka, the tank, and a failure to shore up the defense when protecting a slim lead late in the game have left fans and experts questioning the coach’s judgment. 

With time running out to turn their qualifying fortunes around, the Super Eagles now face an uphill battle, with Chelle in an increasing spotlight to salvage the ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.