Super Eagles coach Eric Sekou Chelle has attributed Nigeria’s impressive run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to disciplined preparation and highly focused training sessions since the team’s arrival in Morocco.
The Super Eagles have enjoyed a flawless campaign so far, winning all three group matches against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda before extending their dominance in the knockout stages. A commanding 4–0 win over Mozambique in the round of 16 was followed by a confident 2–0 victory against Algeria in the quarter-finals in Marrakech.
Chelle explained that his approach has been to treat every match as a final, keeping the squad fully focused on one game at a time. While acknowledging the attention on him as head coach, he stressed that the real work is done by the players on the pitch, with his role centered on guiding and supporting them behind the scenes.
Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams sealed the win over Algeria with second-half goals, setting up a highly anticipated semi-final showdown with tournament hosts Morocco on Wednesday. Chelle described the result as a reward for collective effort rather than individual brilliance.
Reflecting on his first year in charge, the coach expressed pride in the progress made so far. He noted that unlike earlier periods when limited time restricted preparation, the extended training sessions at the tournament have allowed him to better implement his ideas and vision for the team.
The Super Eagles have since returned to Fez for recovery and light training as they prepare for the semi-final encounter. Aside from Wilfred Ndidi, who will miss the match due to suspension after accumulating two yellow cards, the squad remains injury-free and focused on the task ahead.
