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Super Eagles: Chelle challenged to continue Nigeria’s renaissance post AFCON
In Rabat, under the bright lights of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the revered Super Eagles bowed out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the semi-final stage, edged out by hosts Morocco on penalties after a pulsating 120 minutes. Yet in defeat, the story of Nigeria’s tournament was unmistakable: a team reborn, fearless in attack, disciplined in structure and united in belief. At the heart of this transformation stands Éric Sékou Chelle — understated, methodical and increasingly influential — a silent miracle worker whose impact now echoes across African football write MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN and TUNDE LIADI
Football history often celebrates the loudest voices, the most animated touchline generals but Eric Sékou Chelle is the opposite.
Calm, analytical and deeply intentional, the Franco-Malian has reshaped the Super Eagles not through noise but through clarity of purpose. Nigeria’s semi-final exit to Morocco on penalties on Wednesday night did little to diminish the widespread acclaim for a coach who, in less than a year, has restored identity and confidence to a once-uncertain national side.
Former Nigeria international and Super Eagles’ assistant coach to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan , Ben Duamlong, captured the reality of football’s unforgiving judgment:
“A coach is as good as his last result,” the Septuagenarian told NationSports before the Super Eagles’ dramatic penalty-shootout loss to Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON).“It could be as a result of his coaching abilities, a talented bunch of players, plain luck or whatever. Once the results are pouring in, the chorus is always ‘the boy is good’.”
Yet results, undeniably, have poured in under Chelle. Nigeria arrived at the AFCON semi-finals with a perfect winning record in regulation time, scoring freely and pressing relentlessly. The Super Eagles netted a tournament-high 14 goals while conceding just four — a remarkable balance between ambition and control.
For former Super Eagles midfielder Sani Kaita, the change was immediately visible.
“Obviously, the coach is doing a good job,” Kaita, a 2013 AFCON winner, told NationSport. “It’s clear to see we are back to playing attacking football in this tournament. Credit goes to the coach placing an idea and way of play, and of course to the players for executing brilliantly.”
Kaita’s tactical insight proved prophetic ahead of the Morocco clash: “I think the coach shouldn’t change our way of playing for Morocco. They won’t be naive; I believe they will respect us. The only thing I would like to advise is we need to be compact out of possession, as Moroccans are perfect at what they do.”
Morocco ultimately prevailed, tactically sharper on the night but Nigeria’s fearless approach never wavered — a hallmark of Chelle’s philosophy.
Indeed, coach Manu Garba, a two-time winner of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, highlighted Chelle’s greatest achievement: “Coach Eric Chelle has performed credibly well in the AFCON 2025.
“He has been able to get the players to play cohesively as a unit and guided the team to the semi-final with a 100% record of wins. The players have been committed, coordinated and motivated.
“So far, they are the best performing team in the tournament,” Garba added hours before the semi-final loss to Morocco.
That cohesion was evident even in heartbreak. Against Morocco, Nigeria defended with discipline, pressed intelligently, and trusted their collective strength — traits absent in recent years.
Former Super Eagles assistant coach Usman Abd’Allah offered a broader perspective about the enigmatic Chelle, adding the former Mali international must still retool the national team post AFCON 2025.
He volunteered: “Chelle has been doing very well with the team. He needs to be supported. We have a very young talent, and it points to what I suggested earlier — we must build a new team with emphasis on the next World Cup.”
Yet the vastly experience Abd’Allah who is currently attached with Beninese side, USCN Cavaliers, challenged Chelle on the way forward for the Super Eagles with a strong caveat.
“Winning the AFCON (or not) should not be the yardstick,” the erstwhile coach of Enyimba, Kano Pillars and Katsina United, told NationSports. “Rather, he should use it to build a team with the potential of doing better
“The Moroccans were tactically better; Nigeria’s strength lies in individual tactical abilities. A tactical team only comes with time together.”
In Abd’Allah’s view, patience is the missing ingredient — and Chelle deserves it.
From within the Nigerian camp, admiration for Chelle has become even stronger.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s leading scorer at the tournament, credited Chelle with unlocking the squad’s potential:
“We have the talent, but now we’ve got someone who knows when to unleash the beast in his squad,” the Galatasaray striker said. “We’re just doing our job, doing what the coach wants us to do and playing how he wants us to.”
A sentiment equally echoed by Fulham striker, Alex Iwobi, who praised the 48-year-old tactician for creating a team spirit which has taken the Super Eagles to enviable heights only two months after their dreams of qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 ended in agonising loss to Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I feel like the difference is the sense of brotherhood, the family environment that we have created for each other,” Iwobi said on the eve of the semi-final fixture against Morocco. “Of course, at previous AFCONs we have done really well. The team was so strong, but at the same time, we were young, and we were learning about each other.
“I feel like right now everybody is entering their prime, everyone is doing well for their clubs, and you can see the joy and the chemistry we have when playing for our country.
“It is not just on the pitch, also off the pitch, there is a big unity, we are a big family. It starts from the coach – he has brought that brotherhood.”
Such buy-ins from elite players underscores Chelle’s quiet authority as well as the uncommon ambiance he has created with the Super Eagles’ set up.
No wonder a number of other African countries have expressed the willingness to take Chelle on board following his miracle work with the Super Eagles. But former Nigeria international Jide Olugbodi has urged the Nigeria Football Federation to resist any temptation to lure Chelle away from Nigeria , adding brighter future awaits the Super Eagles under the watch of the Franco-Malian trainer.
“It’s important for the NFF to make sure Chelle remains in charge,” he said.“ From competent sources, there is interest in him from a number of African countries.
“ We’ve seen what he has done in less than a year, the future of the team is bright under him,” he added.
Indeed, Chelle’s record in the period under review speaks volumes : 11 wins in 17 matches, just one loss in regulation time and a Super Eagles side once again feared on the continent.
The penalty shootout loss to Morocco hurt, but it did not wound Nigeria’s pride. Instead, it confirmed something deeper: the Super Eagles have direction again.
Chelle may not shout from the sidelines, but his ideas resonate loudly on the pitch. In Rabat, even in defeat, the Silent Miracle Worker strengthened his case — not just as Nigeria’s present but as its future.
Even Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui was gracious in victory :“I congratulate the Nigerian team and Coach Eric Chelle for the great work they have done.”
ÉRIC SÉKOU CHELLE: THE SCORECARD
21 Mar 2025: Rwanda 0-2 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Kigali)
25 Mar 2025: Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
28 May 2025: Nigeria 2-1 Ghana (Unity Cup: London)
31 May 2025: Jamaica 2-2 Nigeria (Unity Cup: London)
*Nigeria win 5-4 on penalties to retain the trophy
06 Jun 2025: Russia 1-1 Nigeria (Friendly: Moscow)
06 Sep 2025: Nigeria 1-0 Rwanda (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
09 Sep 2025: South Africa 1-1 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Bloemfontein)
10 Oct 2025: Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Polokwane)
14 Oct 2025: Nigeria 4-0 Bénin Republic (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
13 Nov 2025: Gabon 1-4 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Playoff: Rabat)
16 Nov 2025: DR Congo 1-1 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Playoff: Rabat)
*DR Congo win 4-3 on penalties
16 Dec 2025: Egypt 2-1 Nigeria (Friendly: Cairo)
23 Dec 2025: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (AFCON: Fès, Morocco)
27 Dec 2025: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia (AFCON: Fès, Morocco)
30 Dec 2025: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria (AFCON: Fès, Morocco)
05 Jan 2026: Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique (AFCON: Fès, Morocco)
10 Jan 2026: Algeria 0-2 Nigeria (AFCON: Marrakech, Morocco)
14 Jan 2026: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco (AFCON: Rabat, Morocco)
*. Morocco win 4-2 on penalties
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