Super Eagles head coach Eric Sekou Chelle has said he feels calmer and better prepared as Nigeria head into the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
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Speaking after Nigeria’s 3–1 victory over Uganda in their final Group C match, Chelle reflected on his growth as a coach since his previous AFCON experience, where he exited the tournament with Mali at the Round of 16 stage.
“I am much calmer now and better prepared than the last time,” Chelle said. “Pressure is part of the job, but experience helps you manage it better.”
The coach explained that the environment within the Super Eagles camp has played a major role in keeping the players focused and disciplined throughout the group stage, where Nigeria recorded three wins from three matches.
“The atmosphere in camp has been very good,” he added. “It helps everyone stay focused on what we need to do.”
Chelle stressed that his attention is firmly on details as the tournament becomes more demanding, highlighting match analysis, player attitude and discipline as key priorities.
“At this stage, it’s about analysing our games properly, managing player mentality and maintaining discipline,” he said. “Everyone must be fully ready because the games will only get tougher.”
Despite Nigeria’s perfect group-stage record, Chelle warned against complacency, noting that knockout football leaves no room for mistakes.
“The knockout stage is different,” he said. “One mistake can end your tournament, so we have to be sharp in every aspect.”
Nigeria will now face a third-placed team from Group F in the Round of 16, with Chelle confident that preparation and focus will be crucial to progressing further at AFCON 2025.
