Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has pinpointed three critical areas where his team must show immediate improvement, despite kicking off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought victory. Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in their Group C opener played in Fez on December 24, 2025, but the performance left room for concern.
Victory Marred by Defensive Concerns
The match saw Semi Ajayi break the deadlock with a powerful header from an Alex Iwobi cross late in the first half. Tanzania managed to equalise shortly after the restart, but Ademola Lookman restored Nigeria's lead just minutes later. While the three points were secured, the Nigerian defence faced sustained pressure in the latter stages, with Tanzania pushing aggressively for a second equaliser.
Chelle, speaking to CAF TV after the match, acknowledged the positives but was frank about the shortcomings. "The second part of the game shows clearly that there is still some work to be done, especially when it comes to killing the game," the coach stated. He emphasised that the team has "a lot of things to improve on defensively" and must also "work on our off ball movements."
Fan Backlash Over Player Misprofiling
Beyond the coach's own assessment, Nigerian fans and observers on social media identified another major problem: the apparent misprofiling of players. Supporters expressed frustration with Chelle's tactical decisions, particularly regarding player positions.
One user, @Engr_Series, pointed out the apparent positional confusion: "Chukwueze, a winger, played very centrally. Dele-Bashiru, a central midfielder, played as a winger. Isn’t that misprofiling?" This sentiment was widely echoed, with @wolexmind adding, "Pls someone need to warn the coach Eric Chelle, Dele-Bashiru is a central midfielder not a winger, he should stop playing him out of position."
Other critiques focused on late-game management and substitutions, suggesting the coach's in-game decisions need refinement. Despite the criticism, some fans saw the narrow win as a potential wake-up call. @oyimzy noted, "Now that everyone is calm I’d like to say that this slender win against Tanzania might be a good thing after all. If Eric Chelle is a serious coach he’d fix up the lapses."
Crucial Tunisia Clash Looms
The need for rapid improvement is urgent, as Nigeria faces a stern test against Tunisia on December 27. The North African side leads Group C on goal difference after defeating Uganda, setting up a pivotal encounter for the Super Eagles.
Chelle has admitted to making mistakes during the Tanzania match, including questions around the deployment of left-back Zaidu Sanusi, but remains confident in his long-term vision for the team. "I congratulate my players for the win, but there is a lot of work to do," he concluded. The coming days will be crucial for the Eagles to address their defensive solidity, movement without possession, and tactical setup before facing one of the tournament's traditional powerhouses.
