Chelle Urges Super Eagles To Put World Cup Disappointment Behind Them Ahead Of AFCON 2025
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has urged his players to turn the page on their World Cup qualification disappointment and place full focus on the task ahead at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Nigeria begin their AFCON campaign on Tuesday in Fes with a Group C opener against Tanzania, a fixture that marks the start of what the Super Eagles hope will be a redemption-driven run on the continental stage.
Having failed to secure a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles are now determined to respond with a strong showing at Africa’s biggest football tournament, where they will be chasing a fourth AFCON title.
However, the challenge promises to be demanding, with Nigeria drawn in a competitive group that also features Tunisia and Uganda.
Addressing the media during his pre-match press conference on Monday, Chelle made it clear that the team has moved on from past setbacks and is fully committed to the present challenge.
“We are here, we have a game tomorrow, and we are in the middle of a tournament, so there is no time to think about what has happened before,” Chelle said.
“This is not the moment to talk about the World Cup qualifiers. Right now, the most important thing is this tournament.”
The Super Eagles coach also underlined the importance of making a strong start, stressing that the opening match could set the tone for the rest of the competition.
“Our first game is a big game. The first match is always very important, and of course, we want to win it,” he added.
With expectations high and national pride at stake, Nigeria will be aiming to make an early statement against Tanzania as they seek to build momentum and reassert themselves among Africa’s elite at AFCON 2025.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
