AFCON 2025: Chelle Says Super Eagles Are Calm and Ready for Mozambique Test
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has said Nigeria are calm and focused ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match against Mozambique.
Nigeria reached the knockout stage after a perfect group campaign, winning all three matches to finish top of Group C with nine points. Victor Osimhen and Calvin Bassey played in all three games as the Super Eagles emerged as one of the most consistent teams at the tournament.
Chelle said the atmosphere around the team in Fes has helped them remain relaxed.
“There is pressure, of course, but I am excited by it,” he said. “Since I arrived, I have felt good. The town is perfect, the hotel is perfect and the atmosphere is perfect. We are calm.”
The coach added that the environment has helped him stay composed during matches and make clearer decisions on the touchline.
“If you watch the games, you will see that I am calmer than at other AFCONs,” Chelle said. “I stay focused only on the game. I have my vision.”
While Nigeria’s results have been strong, Chelle admitted that performances are not always perfect.
“Sometimes it is very good, sometimes very bad. This is football,” he said. “We work every day, we work hard and the players work hard.”
He also warned that the team must continue to improve if they want to go far in the competition.
“We have to improve if we want to be ambitious,” Chelle said. “Even though the weather is cold, we continue to work hard.”
Mozambique had a mixed group-stage campaign. They lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast in their opening match, beat Gabon 3-2 and then lost 2-1 to Cameroon.
The Mambas have extra motivation going into the game after President Daniel Francisco Chapo promised a bonus of 500,000 meticais to each player and member of the coaching staff if they beat Nigeria.
The Round of 16 match between Nigeria and Mozambique will take place at the Complexe Sportif de Fès on Monday, 5 January, with kick-off set for 20:00 local time.
Other Round of 16 fixtures include Morocco vs Tanzania, Mali vs Tunisia, Algeria vs DR Congo, Egypt vs Benin, Senegal vs Sudan, Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso, and South Africa vs Cameroon.
