Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has outlined ambitious plans for Nigeria’s national team, declaring he will introduce fresh talent if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) keeps him in charge beyond the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Chelle, the Malian tactician appointed in January 2025, guided Nigeria to a strong tournament run, reaching the semi-finals where they suffered a heartbreaking 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to the host nation, Morocco, after a tense 0-0 draw following extra time. Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi missed their spot-kicks in the decisive shootout.
The Super Eagles now turn their attention to Saturday evening’s third-place playoff against Egypt in Casablanca, aiming to secure a bronze medal and cap a campaign that saw them score 14 goals in five matches prior to the semi-final exit—the tournament’s highest tally at that stage.
In a pre-match interview ahead of the Egypt clash, Chelle addressed his future and long-term vision for the team. “If God gives me the chance to be the coach after this tournament, I’ve to bring some players,” Chelle said. “My dream is to have twenty-two players, and all of them can take on the opposition. There is a lot of work to achieve that.”
The comments signal Chelle’s intent to refresh the squad with new faces, building on a foundation that produced impressive results despite falling short of the final. His tenure has featured an unbeaten run in normal time across multiple matches and high-scoring performances that restored optimism after earlier setbacks in World Cup qualifiers.
While no decision has been confirmed by the NFF regarding Chelle’s contract—originally set with expectations of reaching the AFCON final—his record of strong performances and attacking football has sparked support from players and fans alike for continuity. Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has publicly backed the coach to remain.
A win over Egypt would provide a positive close to the tournament and strengthen Chelle’s case ahead of discussions with the federation. Nigeria has historically performed well in third-place matches, never losing one in recent editions.
As the Super Eagles seek to end on a high note, Chelle’s focus remains on delivering results while eyeing a deeper squad rebuild for future competitions.
