Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle admitted defeat would have been emotionally devastating, but instead, pride replaced pressure as his Super Eagles secured third place at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Malian-born tactician praised his players for their commitment, discipline, and resilience throughout the tournament, insisting the group had earned his deepest respect.
“It would have been very difficult for me to accept if we had lost this game,” Eric Chelle said. “My players gave everything during this AFCON, and I am very proud to be their coach. It is not easy when a French coach comes in and is very demanding, but they worked hard, respected the process and earned my respect.”
While disappointed not to lift the trophy, Eric Chelle believes the campaign represents a foundation for something bigger.
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“I am happy with third place, even though I wanted to bring the trophy to Nigeria. We don’t know what the future holds, maybe in two years we will bring it.”
Eric Chelle revealed he deliberately experimented with his system in the third-place match, starting in a 4-4-2 flat formation instead of his preferred diamond setup.
“I wanted to bring the game wide first, then inside,” he explained. “The players are more comfortable in the diamond, so the first half was difficult. In the second half we kept the ball better, we even scored a goal that was ruled offside, and when Lookman came in he was very good. For me, we deserved this victory.”
The coach also spoke warmly about goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, whose fitness and form had been questioned before the tournament.
Eric Chelle credited his technical staff and personal relationship with the player for helping him thrive.
“We prepared Stanley like every other player. We have a very good goalkeeper coach and technical staff,” he said. “Something happened in his life, this is not just tactical or technical. We spoke in South Africa and built trust. He is strong, sometimes nervous, but he would go to war for his teammates. He gave everything in every game, and he deserves this victory.”
With Nigeria missing out on World Cup qualification, Eric Chelle stressed that continuity and long-term development remain his priority.
“Our mission now is the next AFCON. We want to build something ambitious,” he said.
His team selection decisions, including resting key players, were part of a wider vision rather than short-term safety.
“Sometimes you must take risks to help the team improve. I am looking for 24 players who can compete every day. High pressing for 90 minutes is difficult in tournaments, so we are building depth for the future, whether I am here or not.”
Eric Chelle also addressed criticism of his substitutions.
“If I do something that looks crazy, there is always a reason.”
Five new players were included in the squad, but some supporters questioned why youngsters like Ryan Alebiosu did not feature.
Eric Chelle defended his cautious approach.
“You cannot just throw young players into pressure situations,” he explained. “Imagine taking penalties in front of 60,000 people if they fail, it can affect their careers. They must prove readiness every day in training, not just one session.”
He pointed to Benjamin Frederick as an example of patience rewarded.
“He trained well when we had limited numbers and earned his chance. The others must learn, grow, and show they are better than players who have been here for five or six years. Then they will play, that responsibility is mine.”
His strongest takeaway from the tournament remains belief in what this Nigerian side can become.
“If we play with intensity, aggression and movement, we are the best team in Africa,” Chelle concluded. “Now we must build a team that can sustain that level across many games, improve our set-pieces and penalties, and keep growing.”
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