Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has publicly addressed questions surrounding his future with the Nigerian national team beyond the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Franco-Malian manager made his comments during a press conference held ahead of Nigeria's crucial opening match against Tanzania.
Chelle's Focus Firmly on AFCON Amidst Uncertainty
The press conference, which took place on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, ahead of the match at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, saw Chelle quizzed about his position following Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His primary mandate upon being hired by the Nigeria Football Federation in January 2025 was to secure World Cup qualification, a task that ended in disappointment after a playoff penalty shootout loss to DR Congo.
This failure led to significant public pressure and calls for his dismissal. However, when asked about his future, Chelle deliberately shifted focus to the immediate tournament at hand. "I am only focused on this tournament," he stated, as reported by Soccernet. "I will have a meeting with my football association about everything but my focus at the moment is about the tournament and my players."
Redemption Quest Begins Against Tanzania
The 2025 AFCON represents a critical opportunity for redemption for both Chelle and the Super Eagles. The team is set to face the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in their first Group Stage match, a game Chelle emphasized as vital. "Our first game is a big game, and the first game is very important. For sure we want to win this game," he asserted.
Chelle also addressed the lingering pain of the World Cup miss but insisted the team has moved on. "Of course, the World Cup miss is painful," he admitted. "This is not the moment to talk about the World Cup qualifiers. For now, the most important thing is this tournament. We are our first opponent, we need to focus on ourselves and take out outside noise."
Navigating Squad Challenges and Leadership Void
The coach faces significant challenges with his squad for the tournament. Key defenders Ola Aina and Benjamin Fredrick are absent due to injury, creating a defensive headache. Furthermore, the team must cope with the sudden retirement of captain and defensive stalwart William Troost-Ekong, who announced his international retirement just days before the tournament commenced, leaving a substantial leadership and experience gap.
Despite these setbacks, Chelle expressed confidence in the players at his disposal. It is anticipated that for the opening match against Tanzania, he will rely on his most trusted personnel, balancing the need for stability with the integration of young, exciting talents in the squad.
The expectations on Chelle remain exceedingly high. Reports, including from ESPN, suggest that there is an expectation within Nigerian football circles that the first non-Nigerian African coach of the Super Eagles could be relieved of his duties if he fails to deliver the AFCON trophy. This adds immense pressure to what is already a high-stakes tournament for the three-time African champions.
