Eric Chelle and Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi faced the media on the eve of Nigeria’s opening match against Tanzania at the Africa Cup of Nations, with both men striking a calm but determined tone ahead of a fixture they acknowledge carries weight, emotion and expectation.
For Chelle, the opening game represents more than just three points—it is the starting point of Nigeria’s quest for redemption and credibility on the continental stage.
“Good day everyone, we are happy to be here, we say thank you to everyone, Nigerians and organizers of the tournament,” Chelle said.
“It’s a big game because it’s the first game of the AFCON, the first game is always important, and for sure we want to win the game.”
Eric Chelle Unfazed by Speculation Over His Future
Asked about uncertainty surrounding his future as Super Eagles head coach, Chelle refused to be drawn into off-field matters, insisting his sole focus is the tournament and his players.
“Since I took this job, there is pressure. I am only focused on the game, my players and officials,” he said.
“We have a game and I want to stay focused on it.”
He made it clear that discussions about his position will come later.
“After the AFCON, we will have a meeting with the Nigerian FA and talk about everything, but now this isn’t the moment to ask any questions.”
“Rather, ask the coaches about the game, the tournament, the players and our game project.”
Chelle stated the urgency of delivering results immediately.
“We stay focused on the first game because this is the most important thing right now. We need to show our ambitions now; after that, we can talk about other things.”
Trust in His Squad After Troost-Ekong’s Retirement
Addressing the retirement of William Troost-Ekong, the coach showed confidence in the players at his disposal and belief in the project he is building, emphasising the unity and readiness within the camp.
“I am not worried. I am trusting my guys,” Chelle said.
“Of course I will love to have everyone here but I am with my guys and I trust in them so much, that’s a big difference.”
“We are working on this great project. Everyone is focused on that and we are ready to play.”
“In my mind I can tell you already the players that will play the game.”
Midfield Questions, Past Setbacks and Responsibility
Chelle also addressed concerns surrounding Nigeria’s midfield and past challenges, including logistical issues and the painful World Cup playoff defeat to DR Congo.
Taking responsibility, he defended his decisions and explained the context behind earlier difficulties.
“In Egypt we arrived late, maybe a day before the game. If you don’t have some players to play how can they play.”
“This is a very big problem.”
He acknowledged the complexity of coaching decisions.
“You know it’s difficult because you have your feeling and vision. I take my responsibility.”
“I am focused on my game project, if you take a choice if you win it’s good and if it is bad, it is bad.”
On the midfield specifically, Chelle remained confident.
“For sure in the midfield I think we have a player and team that can play well. We lost against them on penalties and I think they played well too.”
Nigeria Looking Inward, Not at Tanzania
When asked whether he consulted Amas Obasogie about Tanzania, Chelle made it clear that Nigeria’s preparation has been largely inward-focused.
“We didn’t talk a lot about Tanzanian players. This isn’t a lack of respect, we must focus on ourselves and the game project.”
He reiterated that approach.
“We have our training session and the video session.”
“It’s our first game tomorrow, we are happy. I don’t have time to think about what happened before, or the last game.”
“What is more important is our next game.”
Wilfred Ndidi -“Super Eagles is Here to Contend for the Trophy”
Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi echoed his coach’s confidence, describing a positive atmosphere within the camp ahead of his first AFCON as official captain.
Ndidi, who has earned over 70 international caps since his debut in 2015, has featured at AFCON 2019 and AFCON 2021.
Although he missed AFCON 2023 through injury, he remains one of Nigeria’s most influential figures.
This tournament marks his first Africa Cup of Nations as official captain, adding personal significance to Nigeria’s campaign.
“The spirit in the camp is very high, we are energised,” Ndidi said.
“This game is very important for us. The guys are really ready, the players and staff and everyone is focused on the game, it’s really important.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s near-miss at the last tournament, Ndidi described AFCON as a chance to go one step further.
“There are a lot of lessons learnt in the previous AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, getting into the finals but could not win the trophy.”
“This one is like an opportunity.”
The midfielder also warned against underestimating any opponent.
“We won’t underrate any country that has qualified. We are here to contend for the trophy, not just compete.”
For Eric Chelle, the stakes are equally high. Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup under his watch has intensified scrutiny, even as his record of just one defeat in 11 games offers some encouragement.
