Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle praised the mentality and determination of his players after Nigeria came from behind to defeat Madagascar 2–1 in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Madagascar took the lead after Nigeria conceded from an early mistake, leaving the Super Eagles facing a difficult start. However, Nigeria responded strongly and eventually turned the game around to secure all three points.
Speaking during his post-match briefing, Chelle admitted that Nigeria struggled with anxiety after conceding despite creating opportunities. Sports247 gathered.
“We made a mistake and conceded. After that, we had chances to score, but we were too anxious and couldn’t convert them,” the coach told reporters.
The French-born tactician, who remains unbeaten in his opening competitive matches with the Super Eagles, was pleased with the response from his players.
“But in the end, we were able to come back and win the game. That was very important. The state of mind was good. They gave everything for the jersey and for the country,” he said.
Chelle also expressed his delight at the presence of captain Victor Osimhen, while praising the collective desire within the squad.
“I was very happy because Victor was here too. I was happy because it means this group is trying to go forward and do something great,” he added.
The coach also singled out goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali for an important intervention during the encounter, highlighting a one-on-one save that kept Nigeria in the game.
“Stanley Nwabali did well by making a good save in the one-on-one situation. It was an important save at that point in the game,” Chelle said.
Madagascar’s defensive approach also presented Nigeria with another challenge, with Chelle noting that the visitors adopted a deep defensive block.
“Madagascar parked the box, which made things difficult for us. In the second half, we could have scored more goals,” he explained.
According to Chelle, Nigeria’s chances could have produced a more emphatic scoreline.
“It could have been five or six goals in our favour,” he said.
The coach revealed that Nigeria began the match with a diamond formation but changed shape after the interval to deal with Madagascar’s low block.
“Like I said, it was not bad. Overall, I’m happy with the outcome of the game and the desire shown by the players,” Chelle concluded.
