Barely two days after their painful exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, the Super Eagles will return to action on Saturday in Casablanca, where they will battle Egypt’s Pharaohs in the third-place playoff.
Nigeria’s dream of a fourth continental crown ended on Wednesday night after a penalty shootout loss to Morocco in the semifinals, leaving Coach Eric Chelle and his players with the consolation prize of a bronze medal to chase.
For Chelle, the defeat marked a dramatic shift from hope to uncertainty, especially amid reports linking him with a possible move to Tunisia, one of Africa’s representatives at the 2026 World Cup. His long-term future with the Super Eagles remains unclear.
Despite the setback, Nigeria still has history on its side in bronze medal matches. The Super Eagles have won the third-place playoff a record eight times, including at Egypt 2019, Angola 2010 and Tunisia 2004, and will now aim for a ninth podium finish.
The team has since relocated to Casablanca, where they trained on Thursday evening ahead of the clash with an Egyptian side led by star forward Mohamed Salah. While the squad had an open session with the media on Thursday, access to Friday’s training was restricted.
The Nigeria Football Federation has stood firmly behind the team, describing their tournament campaign as one defined by commitment, discipline, resilience and national pride.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau urged the players to move past the semifinal disappointment and focus on finishing strongly.
He said the team performed admirably under difficult circumstances and reminded them that penalty shootouts are often unpredictable. Gusau added that the federation remains proud of their effort, noting that Nigeria is still the highest-scoring team at the tournament.
Businessman and philanthropist Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu also praised the squad for their fighting spirit and confirmed that he would still honour his $500,000 pledge to the players and officials, despite the loss to Morocco.
He commended their courage and unity, urging them to keep their heads high as the experience gained would serve them well in future competitions.
Meanwhile, hosts Morocco will face Senegal in Sunday’s final in Rabat, with both nations seeking their second AFCON title.
