Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has reiterated that Nigeria’s focus remains firmly on winning as they prepare to face Uganda in their final Group C match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Bold Sports reports.
Nigeria have enjoyed a perfect start to the tournament, recording back-to-back victories to sit top of Group C with six points. The Super Eagles opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Tanzania before edging Tunisia 3-2 in a thrilling encounter, results that confirmed their place in the round of 16 alongside Egypt and Algeria.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Chelle revealed that while squad rotation is likely, no final decision has been made regarding his starting line-up against Uganda.
“There are players in this group that deserve to be in this team for this game and the other games,” Chelle said. “To win something, it’s not just about 11 players, it’s about the group. I have to think about a lot of things, but my choice will arrive after the training session or tomorrow morning.”
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Nigeria’s win over Tunisia was not without drama, as the Carthage Eagles mounted a late comeback from 3-0 down to push the Super Eagles until the final whistle. Chelle addressed criticism surrounding his substitutions, which some felt contributed to Tunisia’s resurgence.
“We conceded the first goal before the substitution,” he explained. “We played in a 4-4-2 diamond, which gives freedom to the fullbacks. The pressure was on us, so you have to protect the wingers.”
Defending his decisions, Chelle acknowledged the unpredictable nature of football: “Sometimes the choice you make is very good, the player scores or makes an assist. Sometimes it doesn’t work. After that, people say the choice wasn’t good, but this is football,” he said. “The reality is that we won 3-2. We should have won 3-0, but we won. We’ve scored five goals.”
The coach emphasised that while clean sheets are desirable, attacking productivity remains a positive sign: “You want a clean sheet, but I see the goals we score. For sure we want to win, and I have to look for the best way for my team,” Chelle added.
Fitness concerns appear minimal ahead of the Uganda game. Chelle confirmed there are no major injuries in the squad, though a few players are managing minor issues.
“There is no injury,” he said. “Just little pain for Stanley Nwabali, Frank Onyeka and Victor Osimhen. They can play, they want to play, and we’ll see in the training session.”
The Malian tactician also spoke passionately about what it means to lead Nigeria, highlighting the commitment within his coaching staff and players.
“I’m very proud to work for this nation, to try and bring something, to be ambitious,” Chelle said. “The people with me feel the same. They want to die for Nigeria, and we’re ready for that.”
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