- Team back in Fez to strategize for Morocco
Super Eagles head coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, has attributed the team’s impressive run at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to disciplined and focused training sessions held in Morocco ahead of the tournament.
Nigeria swept through the group stage with victories over Tanzania (2-1), Tunisia (3-2) and Uganda (3-1), before extending their dominant form in the knockout rounds. The Super Eagles thrashed Mozambique 4-0 in the Round of 16 and followed up with a convincing 2-0 win over Algeria in Saturday’s quarter-final clash in Marrakech.
Chelle said his approach has been to treat every match as a final, stressing total concentration on winning and progressing one game at a time. While acknowledging the attention on him as head coach, he maintained that results on the pitch are delivered by the players, whom he supports through close engagement off the field.
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Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams scored second-half goals on Saturday as Nigeria secured a deserved 2-0 victory over Algeria, booking a highly anticipated semi-final showdown against tournament hosts Morocco on Wednesday.
“Everybody is curious about Chelle now, but I am not on the pitch — the players are,” the coach said. “I try to do my job with my own conviction. I work closely with my players and spend time with them.”
Chelle recently marked one year in charge of the Super Eagles, having overseen 16 matches, and expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded under his leadership.
“I am very proud of my players,” he said. “We have been working since last January, but before now, we only had one or two days for training. Here at AFCON, we have had more time to work, and with my vision for the team, the results are beginning to show.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles have returned to Fez for recovery sessions and light training ahead of their semi-final encounter with Morocco. There are no injury concerns in the camp, except for Wilfred Ndidi, who will miss the match after picking up two yellow cards in the tournament.
