Wet, windy and cold. A graphic depiction of winter football as encapsulated in Fes, and since arriving this Northern Moroccan city for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles, have not only had to adapt to the elements, Eric Chelle’s men have equally valiantly defended the fort.
Emerging with a 3-0 record from the group stages; one of the best team performances in the first round, on January 5, the Super Eagles will play their final game in Fes – with Marrekesh in sight – hoping to carry on their quest for the title.
Super Eagles Eyes AFCON 2025 Title – Eric Chelle
On the eve of their R16 match against Mozambique, at the pre-game press conference, Chelle appeared calm sitting alongside captain Wilfred Ndidi and both chorused, in harmony, the team’s objective.
‘Yes winning the title is the ultimate achievement at this AFCON, but the most important game is the next one – against Mozambique’.
Since the opening day win against Tanzania, Chelle’s mantra has been ‘focus, intensity and improvement’.
In three games they’ve shipped in four goals, conceding against every opponent they’ve faced so far – including 10-man Uganda.
Eric Chelle admits his Players have often finished games with less the intensity with which they start, but insists every training session is important to focus on such shortcomings.
The 48 year-old, who approaches a decade in his career as first team head coach, has embraced the challenge that comes with his ‘biggest job’.
Chelle says that he has grown wiser in many ways; ‘calmer’, since his debut AFCON in Cote d’ivoire.
‘I’ve learned to be calm now in my analysis in-game and in management of the team and strategy.”
“It is true that I was under pressure to deliver with Mali; because that’s my country, but with Nigeria I don’t think any other job can put me under more pressure.”
Meanwhile, Chelle’s employers, the Nigeria Football Federation/National Sports Commission, have handed him a target to reach the AFCON final as recompense for the team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off failure.
That expectation regardless, the Super Eagles who entered the tournament as darkhorses, have since seen their stock rise in Morocco.
Winning maximum points from the group phase put the Super Eagles on the path of favorites Algeria and Morocco to reach the final, with all due respect to DR Congo and Tanzania.
‘We have put the group stage behind us now, it’s a new competition from here on. The real tournament is about to start,’ Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi echoed his Coach’s sentiments in Sunday’s pre-game presser.
For Mozambique, they booked a first-ever second round spot at the AFCON, and despite being underdogs, head Coach, Francisco Conde and his captain Elias Pelembe say the ‘Mambas’ will compete a note of warning to strike at every chance they get in the encounter.
A favorable head-to-head record (4 wins 1 draw) may give many the false impression that Nigeria won’t break a sweat against the less fancied Mozambicans.
However, Conde says the Mambas have shown they can match oppositions like Nigeria with good team spirit and collective responsibility.
So the stage is set for Monday’s knockout game at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, where history will be made if Mozambique upsets Nigeria or the latter extends their streak in Morocco and march on to Marrakesh.
