Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has revealed that both he and his players have put the disappointment of missing out on next year’s FIFA World Cup behind them, turning their attention fully to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles are set to kick off their AFCON campaign in Group C with a clash against Tanzania in Fes on Tuesday.
After failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the team will be aiming to reclaim continental glory by pursuing a fourth AFCON title in Morocco. To do so, they must navigate a challenging group that also includes Tunisia and Uganda.
Speaking at Monday’s pre-match press conference, Chelle emphasized the need to focus on the upcoming tournament rather than dwell on past disappointments.
“We are here and we have a game tomorrow and also we have a tournament so we don’t have the time to think about what has happened before,” Chelle said.
“This is not the moment to talk about the World Cup qualifiers, for now the most important thing is this tournament.”
The former Mali coach also highlighted the significance of the opening match. “Our first game is a big game and the first game is very important and for sure we want to win this game,” he added.
The Super Eagles will be hoping to start AFCON 2025 on a high, having settled for a 1-1 draw in their opening game at the 2023 tournament against Equatorial Guinea.
