Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has expressed that Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 World Cup playoff games will serve as a crucial motivator for his team’s ambition to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Speaking ahead of the decisive fixtures, Chelle emphasized that winning the continental title remains his ultimate goal but acknowledged that Nigeria’s failure to progress from the playoffs could dampen that ambition.
Nigeria endured a challenging World Cup qualifying campaign, going winless in their opening four matches and missing out on automatic qualification for the tournament set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their hopes now rest on the African playoff stage.
The Super Eagles will face Gabon in the semi-finals next Thursday, with a potential final clash against DR Congo or Cameroon for a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.
“Since March, we’ve played every match under pressure. When we set foot in Morocco, that pressure will be familiar,” Chelle said in an interview with CAFOnline. “If we arrive on the back of playoff success, stopping us will be difficult.”
Chelle stressed the importance of maintaining focus, humility, and team unity:
“Before AFCON, there’s a crucial target — the World Cup playoffs. The goal is to win those matches. If we win the first (Gabon), we’ll aim for the second, then turn to AFCON. When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything. But we proceed with humility, with a smile, and a will to work. This team has great players. If we stay serious, motivated, and united, nothing is impossible.”
If Nigeria successfully secures qualification, Chelle will shift his full focus to the AFCON tournament, which will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The three-time African champions last won the title in 2013 and narrowly lost to Ivory Coast in the final of the previous edition.
On his AFCON aspirations, Chelle stated:
“Of course, we want to win it. Personally, I want to win AFCON. My last, and first, AFCON was a fantastic experience. I believe Morocco will host another great tournament, and my players share that same hunger to succeed.”
