Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle said Nigeria’s pursuit of the fourth title in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be driven by a shared determination to win.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group C of the 2025 AFCON alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania. The three-time AFCON winners remain among the tournament favourites, boasting a squad stacked with talent, including Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface.
With Morocco set to host AFCON for the first time since 1988, excitement is already building for the tournament, which will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, across six Moroccan cities.
Chelle was appointed as Nigeria’s head coach in January and has emphasised his team’s determination to claim the continental title after their painful defeat to Ivory Coast in the 2023 AFCON final.
The former Lens defender was present at the last edition in Ivory Coast, where he guided Mali to the quarterfinals. Mali was on the brink of a historic semifinal appearance, but despite a numerical advantage, they suffered a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to the host nation.
Although Nigeria had already secured qualification for the 2025 AFCON before Chelle’s appointment, the new Super Eagles coach is focused on leading Nigeria to a fourth AFCON title in Morocco.
The 46-year-old acknowledges the tough road ahead but insists both he and his team are fueled by their past setbacks.
“Yes, it’s going to be difficult to win because there are 24 very good teams and some very good coaches,” Chelle told CAFonline. “I know I’ve got a team that’s out for revenge, and I’m out for revenge too, so we’re going to have a lot of fun.
“We are out for revenge. We know what this team is capable of, and our goal is clear—to lift the trophy in Morocco.”
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