The Nigeria Football Federation has made a definitive decision regarding the future of Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, following the team's campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
NFF Backs Chelle Despite Falling Short of Final Target
NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, officially confirmed the federation's stance in a statement published on its website after Nigeria secured third place. The Super Eagles, under Chelle's guidance, clinched a record-extending ninth AFCON bronze medal by defeating Egypt in the playoff match held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Gusau acknowledged that the initial target set for the coach was to win the trophy, a goal that was not met after a semi-final loss to Morocco. However, he expressed pride in the team's overall performance and character displayed throughout the tournament.
"Actually, when we landed in Morocco towards the end of last year, our objective was to win the AFCON trophy," Gusau stated. "Today, we finished in third place... We missed our target, but my joy is in the way our team played. They have played with zest and patriotic fervour, and showed resilience and character."
Vote of Confidence and Future Plans
This positive assessment directly influenced the NFF's decision to retain the Malian tactician. Gusau praised Chelle's work ethic and capacity, signaling a commitment to continuity.
"As the head of a hard-working technical crew, Mr. Chelle has done exceedingly well within the one year he has been with us," the NFF President added. "He has shown enormous capacity, and we will continue to work with him. The NFF is proud of the team’s campaign and will continue to do its best to encourage, support and motivate the team as we go forward."
This endorsement comes despite the team's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighting that the AFCON performance was the primary metric for this evaluation.
Chelle's Relief and Determination to Build
Eric Chelle, during his post-match conference after the victory over Egypt, admitted that losing the bronze medal match would have made his position difficult. His comments indicated a strong desire to continue the project with the national team.
"We will build on this experience, and it will be the foundation for the next phase of work," Chelle affirmed, looking ahead to future challenges.
The decision to retain him aligns with the sentiment of many Nigerian fans who, though disappointed not to lift the trophy, applauded the team's spirited displays in Morocco. The confirmation also comes amid reports that Chelle had received a lucrative offer to coach the Tunisian national team following their AFCON exit, an option he will now not be pursuing.
With his future now secured, the focus for Eric Chelle and the NFF shifts to planning for the next qualifying cycle and building a squad capable of going beyond the bronze medal at the next continental showpiece.
