Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle has insisted that Nigeria are mentally, physically, and tactically ready for their AFCON 2025 quarter-final clash against Algeria, stressing repeatedly that his only concern is what happens on the pitch, not the distractions surrounding the team.
Speaking at the official pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s heavyweight encounter, Chelle addressed everything from Nigeria’s mindset, tactical readiness, young players, pressure, his experience with Algerian football, past defeats, and expectations.
“This Is a Big Game” – Eric Chelle Speaks on Algeria vs Nigeria Clash
Asked how important the match is and how prepared Nigeria are, Chelle analyzed the magnitude of the quarterfinal match.
He shared that Nigeria’s approach remains rooted in their identity rather than the reputation of the opposition.
“This is a big game, of course, because it’s the quarterfinal,” he said.
“We came against a big team, and we tried to… actually, we always think about the way that we play.”
With Nigeria emerging from days of tension surrounding bonuses and logistics, Chelle was asked how much work it took to move the players from a negative to a positive mindset, and how it affected him personally.
His response was firm and unwavering.
“This is my job. This is my job to stay focused, to try to stay focused,” he said.
“This is my job to try to stay focused about only the pitch. Definitely, my job is in the pitch, not around.”
The Franco-Malian coach stated that mentality is everything at this stage of the tournament.
“The state of mind is the most important thing,” Chelle explained.
“The group has to stay with a big solid energy. So, every time when you do something, there is some good things, bad things, but you have to stay focused.”
According to him, Nigeria are ready in every department.
“In that case, our state of mind is good. We are ready. Physically, we are ready. Tactically, I have to make some choices.”
“And technically, we are ready too.”
He also made it clear that he would not discuss off-field matters.
“What happened around this team, if you want, this is the moment that I can say, I just want to talk about the pitch,” he said.
“If you have other questions, you have to ask my federation.”
“I Like Algerian Football Style” – Eric Chelle
Chelle was also asked whether his previous coaching experience in Algeria could give Nigeria an edge.
He praised Algerian football’s technical quality and movement, however, he insisted that preparation and mindset matter more than familiarity.
“I hope,” he replied.
“This football is the big football. They love to play. They like to play football.”
“Their football is very technical football with a lot of movements. So, I like this football,” he said.
“I have my vision. I try to do something, to find the best way, to find the best formation for this game, but the reality, once again, is the most important thing is the state of mind of the group,” Chelle added.
No Fear, No Revenge: “We Just Want to Play”
When reminded of Nigeria’s painful AFCON 2019 semi-final loss to Algeria and asked whether revenge was on the players’ minds, Chelle rejected the idea outright.
He dismissed the narrative that North African teams consistently trouble Nigeria.
“First of all, I would say that we don’t have anything about revenge in our mindsets,” he said.
“We just want to play.”“We are a team that work every day to progress and to win.”
“I cannot tell you the Algerian teams, the North African teams, are teams that are giving us trouble,” he stated.
“Because we too here are teams that are giving them trouble. Because we just kicked them out.”
For Chelle, every opponent deserves respect.
“Every team is really good in this competition. You can see every African team now. They are good and they progress a lot,” he said.
“There is no small team and there is no big team anymore.”
“To Win This Game, We Have to Score” – Tactical Approach Revealed
On how Nigeria have been preparing to face Algeria’s defence, Chelle revealed a familiar but detailed process. He confirmed Nigeria had trained specifically with the match in mind and that preparation must manifest under pressure.
“To win this game, we have to score some goals,” he said.
“We analyse the game. We try to find the weaknesses of the opponent.”
“This is a quarter-final. This is the big competition,” Chelle noted.
“Your state of mind and your mindset is very, very important. Because you have to manage the pressure.”
He confirmed Nigeria had trained specifically with the match in mind.
“We try to work on every day, every training session. This is why I have written a training session today. I think we will be ready for the game.”
“They Are the Future of Nigeria” – Chelle on Current Super Eagles Squad
Asked how he manages pressure on young players eager to make a name for themselves, Chelle was reassuring.
“I believe most of these young kids, they are not young kids,” he said.
“They are playing abroad. They have clubs.”
He acknowledged that national team pressure is different.
“Of course, you know, it’s Nigeria. It’s not club psych. The Nigerian pressure is different from the club,” he explained.
“So, of course, we try to help them, to give them the courage, because they are the future.”
Leadership, Ambition and Identity
Reflecting on the scale of managing Nigeria, Chelle revealed that he deliberately shields himself from external noise.
“I stay in my hotel, in my room with my player. And I don’t read the social media or the television.”
“So I don’t know what happens around this team.” he said.
His focus remains long-term as he described the Algeria clash as a defining test of Nigeria’s football identity.
“I have my own ambitions. And I try to give to my player these ambitions,” Chelle stated.
“I just want that we go together to looking for something.”
“This is a big game between two big teams. First the motivation and the state of mind. And at the end maybe a good game for us,” he said.
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“We Just Want To Win”
Eric Chelle concluded, speaking on the spotlight on individual stars, but , redirected praise to the collective.
“But first, it’s a team. It’s a team play. We are all a team,” he said.
“Before they score, someone gives them the ball to score.”
“There is no time for who is the best and who is not the best. The most important thing, the teams are the best,” Chelle said.
“We all are the best. We just want to win.”
Nigeria held their official training session at 5:00 p.m., with all focus now firmly on Saturday’s AFCON 2025 quarter-final against Algeria in Morocco.
