“It’s normal” – Eric Chelle explains why he clashed with South Africa’s technical crew

“Once again, this is a big game, so there is some stress; there is some tension,” Chelle said after the game, in quotes revealed by Goal.

“So, sometimes you can say something badly, and sometimes you need to fight, not against the real fight, but you need to manage it, and sometimes it’s difficult because of the pressure,” he added.

“This is the football. This is normal when the two teams, when the two benches, want to win, and you know it was at every decision about the referee; one of the bench does not agree with that, so this is the football.”

“For a big game like that, because of the game and because everyone in South Africa is against Nigeria. So, this is normal for me. We’re focused on the game, and we try to win.

“The two teams try to win, so I have no problem with that,” the 47-year-old concluded.

South Africa's head coach, Hugo Broos, also admitted it wasn't his best moment, but he got caught in the heat of the moment.

“Those are the emotions of the game, and sometimes when I see pictures of what I do on the pitch, I tell myself, ‘come on don't do that'.

“You're nervous, you're tense. I think we got three yellow cards and the Nigerians got one. That is not normal, I'm very sorry,” the Belgian tactician apologized.

“So, I was angry, and the Nigerian players went to the referee and I reacted with a gesture with my hands. I don't have to do that but then what?

“I want to win, I want to go to America, next year,” Hugo Broos concluded.

Bar any point deductions, South Africa need just one win from their remaining qualifiers to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria, on the other hand, need a huge miracle for the tides to turn in their favour.