Eric Chelle Downplays Knockout Pressure as Super Eagles Complete Perfect AFCON Group Stage

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles concluded their Group C campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a convincing 3-1 victory over Uganda in Fez, maintaining a flawless record under head coach Éric Chelle.

The win secured nine points from three matches, placing Nigeria at the top of the group. The team now prepares for the round of 16 on Monday, where they will face one of the group runners-up from matches involving Ivory Coast, Cameroon, or Mozambique.

Speaking after the game, Chelle addressed concerns about the pressure of knockout stages, noting that he thrives under high expectations. “The round of 16 is a lot of pressure, for sure, but I am fascinated by that. Since I arrived, I have had a lot of pressure and I feel good,” he said.

The coach also praised Fez for its welcoming atmosphere, calm environment, and quality facilities. “I am very happy to stay in Fès because the town is good and calm. The people are very nice to us. We are focused and we have our base. We can do a lot of training sessions,” Chelle added.

On the field, Nigeria opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Paul Onuachu netted from a precise assist by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Uganda’s challenge was hampered early in the second half when Salim Magoola was shown a red card for handball.

Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, Raphael Onyedika scored twice in quick succession in the 62nd and 67th minutes, both assisted by Samuel Chukwueze. Uganda pulled one back through Rogers Mato in the 75th minute, but Nigeria held firm to close the match 3-1, ending the Cranes’ tournament.

Chelle praised his rotated squad, highlighting the strong performance of players who were given rare starting opportunities. “The group gave a good answer today because the players who did not start the previous games started today and they showed something. They scored three goals and I am very happy about that,” he said.

He also reflected on the challenges of squad selection amid intense competition. “Now I have a little pain in my head because I have to make a lot of choices, because everybody can play in this team, and that is perfect for me,” Chelle remarked.

Despite the perfect group stage, the coach stressed the need to raise standards in the knockout rounds. “I am happy about the victory, but we have to improve again. If we want to be ambitious, we have to improve again,” he said.

The Super Eagles now look to carry their momentum forward as they chase continental glory at AFCON 2025.