Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has made it clear that his team’s primary goal remains advancing deep into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite being named CAF’s Best Coach of the Group Stage.
Chelle received the prestigious award after leading the Super Eagles to a perfect group stage campaign in Morocco, with three consecutive wins over Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda.
The Nigerian team’s flawless performance placed them among the favorites for the continental title, alongside Algeria, as they finished with nine points and the most goals in the group phase.
However, Chelle remained grounded and insisted that the team’s objectives are far greater than individual accolades.
“I am happy about this recognition, but I want to give credit to my backroom staff,” Chelle stated.
“This is a great motivation for everyone involved, but our focus is on the bigger picture. We are here to achieve something much more significant, and we won’t get carried away by praise.”
Under Chelle’s leadership, the Super Eagles have bounced back from a tough period marked by inconsistent performances and missed World Cup qualification, showing new levels of discipline, structure, and attacking potency.
The upcoming knockout-stage clash against Mozambique will be crucial as Nigeria seeks its fourth AFCON crown.
Having reached the final in 2023 but falling short, Chelle is determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
“We will take each match as it comes,” he emphasized.
“There is still a long way to go in this tournament, and we are fully committed to the task at hand.”
Despite the recognition, Chelle’s focus remains on guiding Nigeria to greater success, and the Super Eagles are eager to build on their strong start as they pursue another AFCON title.
