Super Eagles head coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, is blocking out all external noise and concentrating solely on securing a winning start for Nigeria against Tanzania in their Africa Cup of Nations opener, a team insider has revealed.
Chelle's Single-Minded Focus on Victory
Despite chatter in Morocco highlighting the threat posed by Tanzanian stars like captain Mbwana Samatta of French club Le Havre and Iraq-based Simon Msuva, Chelle is paying no special attention to individual opponents. According to an anonymous source who spoke to The Guardian, the coach is entirely dedicated to the mental and physical readiness of his own squad.
The source emphasized that the match, scheduled for Tuesday at the 35,000-capacity Complexe Sportif de Fès, is crucial for setting the tone in Group C, especially with a subsequent clash against Tunisia looming. "Chelle wants a comfortable win to set the stage for the Tunisia game, which will likely decide our final group position," the source stated.
"We've heard all about the Tanzanian stars, but they should be the ones worrying about how to stop the Super Eagles. We are not underrating them, but we won't let the talk distract us. Everything will be settled on the pitch," the source added.
Eagles Settle in for Crucial Clash
The Nigerian team has been acclimatizing to the cold Moroccan conditions with twice-daily training sessions since arrival. A final training session inside the match venue is planned to help the players adapt to the pitch.
The encounter presents a classic David vs. Goliath scenario. Tanzania, coached by Miguel Gamondi, are making only their fourth AFCON appearance after group stage exits in 1980, 2019, and 2023. They are yet to win a match in the tournament's history, with a record of three draws and six losses from nine games.
In stark contrast, Nigeria is a continental powerhouse, participating in 20 previous editions, winning three titles, finishing as runners-up five times, and claiming bronze on eight occasions. With 104 total matches played, the Super Eagles are considered the most decorated team in the 68-year history of the AFCON, a status that considers overall consistency beyond Egypt's seven titles.
Outstanding Rewards Finally Approved for National Teams
In a significant boost for Nigerian sports, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed that all outstanding rewards promised to several national teams have been fully approved and processed.
NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, stated that this confirmation was essential to allow the Super Eagles to focus entirely on their quest for a fourth AFCON title without distractions over unpaid bonuses. The development covers rewards for:
- The Super Eagles for finishing as runners-up at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire.
- The Super Falcons for winning the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where each player was promised $100,000.
- D'Tigress, the women's basketball team, for winning their seventh AfroBasket title in August 2024 and qualifying for the FIBA Women's World Cup. Each player is also to receive $100,000.
Dikko, speaking on Arise Television, revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a package including cash, houses, land allocations, and national honours. "I can confirm Mr. President has approved the houses, land, National Awards, and monies. All has been processed," Dikko said.
He further disclosed, "I have in my possession all the Certificates of Occupancy for the players' houses in Lagos and Abuja. The national honour certificates are ready, and the money is at the payment point in the Office of the Accountant General."
This move is expected to restore confidence among athletes, following past disputes, including a 24-hour training boycott by the Super Eagles during World Cup playoffs in November over unpaid allowances.
