Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has acknowledged that Nigeria fell short in key areas during their dramatic semi-final loss to hosts Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), admitting his side lacked the energy and attacking thrust needed to secure victory.
Nigeria’s campaign came to a halt on Wednesday night after a fiercely contested encounter ended goalless in regulation time, with Morocco eventually prevailing 4–2 in the ensuing penalty shoot-out.
Speaking after the match, Chelle explained that his team’s aggressive pressing strategy was intentional, designed to prevent Morocco from exploiting space. However, he conceded that the overall performance did not match the standard the Super Eagles had set in earlier rounds of the tournament.
“We approached the game with high pressing because when you don’t press, you give the opponent room to play and it becomes very difficult,” Chelle said. “But technically, we were not at the same level we showed in our previous matches. I wouldn’t say it was fatigue, but the reality is that we lacked movement and physical power.”
The 48-year-old coach was also asked about ongoing speculation surrounding his future with the national team, rumours that had surfaced even before the tournament kicked off. Chelle avoided engaging in the discussion, insisting that his immediate focus remains on the task ahead.
“At the moment, I am still the coach of the Super Eagles,” he stated. “We have a match against Egypt and my priority is to win that game.”
Nigeria will take on Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday at 5 p.m., a fixture Chelle emphasized should not be treated lightly, despite the disappointment of missing out on the final.
Addressing questions about team selection and tactical choices, including his decision to replace suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi with Raphael Onyedika, Chelle stressed the importance of collective responsibility over individual performances.
“This is not about one player; it’s about the entire group,” he said.
Chelle also stood by his decisions during the penalty shoot-out, after Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi failed to convert their spot-kicks.
“The players who took the penalties were the ones who performed best in training,” he explained, defending the selection despite the unfortunate outcome.
With the semi-final heartbreak behind them, Chelle and the Super Eagles now turn their attention to finishing the tournament on a positive note against Egypt.
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