Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has warned that his players are driven to win their fourth AFCON title, motivated by a desire for redemption after losing out in the final at Ivory Coast
Eric Chelle shared his thoughts after the tournament draw in Rabat on Monday, where it was decided that Nigeria will be in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The new Super Eagles coach acknowledged the upcoming AFCON tournament will be a tough challenge, but he expressed confidence that he and his team are driven by a desire for revenge and are poised to make the most of the experience as they pursue victory.
“Yes, it’s going to be difficult to win because there are 24 very good teams and some very good coaches. I know I’ve got a team that’s out for revenge, and I’m out for revenge too, so we’re going to have a lot of fun,” Chelle said. “Our goal is clear—to lift the trophy in Morocco,” he added.
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The Super Eagles had an impressive run in the previous AFCON tournament, remaining undefeated in their group stage and then overcoming Cameroon, Angola, and South Africa to reach the final.
However, their bid for the trophy was thwarted by the host nation, who staged a comeback to win with goals from Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller cancelling out Troost-Ekong’s opening goal.
The painful memory of their previous AFCON loss has ignited a burning desire for redemption among the Super Eagles players, with many of them hungry to experience their first AFCON triumph.
Nigeria’s upcoming encounter with Tunisia, who are in the same group as the Super Eagles, also promises to be intense, given their long-standing rivalry and Tunisia’s elimination of Nigeria in the round of 16 at the 2021 AFCON.
Just like the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle also had his own fair share of heartbreak during the previous AFCON tournament. Chelle had a promising run with Mali, securing two draws and a win over South Africa, before advancing to the Round of 16, where they beat Burkina Faso.
Mali, filled with confidence, came close to eliminating hosts Ivory Coast, thanks to Nene Dorgeles’ 71st-minute goal, but a dramatic late equalizer by Adingra and a last-minute extra-time goal by Oumar Diakite crushed Mali’s hopes in a devastating manner.
Eager to put past disappointments behind them, the Super Eagles and their new coach Eric Chelle will now join forces to pursue a triumphant campaign in Morocco.
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