Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle Makes Startling Revelation About Nigeria's AFCON Squad
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has delivered a surprising admission regarding the Nigerian national football team's performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Franco-Malian tactician, who guided the three-time African champions to a bronze-medal finish, has openly stated that the squad he fielded during the continental tournament was not his strongest possible lineup.
Chelle Attributes AFCON Shortcomings to Missing Key Defenders
The 48-year-old coach emphasized that Nigeria's failure to secure a fourth AFCON title was significantly impacted by the absence of two crucial defenders. Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest and Benjamin Fredrick of Brentford were both unavailable due to injuries sustained prior to the tournament, forcing Chelle to implement last-minute tactical adjustments.
"If you take a closer look, we did not have two of our best players, Ola Aina and Benjamin Fredrick at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations because of injury," Chelle explained. "In a tournament, you need your best players to switch ideas during matches, but we did not have them. Maybe it could have been different with them because they already understand how we want to play and the project we are building."
Injury Details and Tournament Performance
Ola Aina's injury occurred during Nigeria's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa on September 9, 2024, at the Toyota Free State Stadium. The Nottingham Forest defender suffered a hamstring injury just ten minutes into the match and was subsequently sidelined for 116 days. Despite returning to action in January 2025 and featuring in the AFCON, his fitness remained compromised.
Despite these defensive setbacks, Nigeria managed to secure third place in the tournament after defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. The Super Eagles boasted one of the tournament's most formidable attacking trios featuring:
- Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray
- Ademola Lookman of Atletico Madrid
- Moses Simon of Paris FC
Chelle's Future Plans for Super Eagles Rebuilding
Following the 2025 AFCON, Coach Chelle has initiated plans to overhaul the Nigerian squad by gradually phasing out aging players and integrating younger talent. The former Mali manager attempted to recruit promising dual-nationality players including Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri and Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy for Nigeria's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, though these efforts have yet to materialize.
Chelle's candid assessment highlights the challenges faced by national team coaches when key players become unavailable for major tournaments. The Super Eagles' bronze-medal achievement, while commendable, fell short of the nation's expectations for a fourth continental title, with the coach firmly believing that a fully fit squad could have reached the final.
