Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has defended his tactical approach and use of substitutions ahead of Nigeria’s final Group C match against Uganda, insisting that context and perspective are often lost in post-match criticism.
Nigeria arrive in Fès already qualified for the Round of 16 following wins over Tanzania and Tunisia. However, the dramatic 3–2 victory against the Carthage Eagles reignited familiar discussions around game management, late defensive lapses and the influence of changes made from the bench.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Chelle stressed that football decisions cannot always be judged through hindsight.
The scrutiny intensified after Nigeria conceded twice late on against Tunisia, shortly after Chidera Ejuke and Moses Simon were introduced, with defender Chidozie Awaziem added in stoppage time as the team attempted to close out the match.
Chelle rejected the suggestion that his decisions were flawed, explaining the tactical demands of the system used on the day.
“We conceded the first goal before the substitution. When you do a substitution, I try to analyse during the game what happened,” he said.
“Because we played a 4-4-2 diamond, it means the fullbacks are free. That puts pressure on us, and you have to protect the winger. My choice was the best choice at that moment.”
The Malian coach added that substitutions do not guarantee immediate results, regardless of how they are perceived after the final whistle.
“Sometimes you make good choices and the players score or assist. Sometimes a player comes on and, for many reasons, does not score or assist,” Chelle said.
“After that, everybody says the coach was not good or the choice was not good. But this is football. We can talk about the bad and the good things.”
While Nigeria have now conceded goals in five straight matches and have not kept a clean sheet since their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Benin, Chelle urged a broader view of the team’s performances.
He pointed instead to Nigeria’s attacking numbers, which currently lead the tournament.
“If we had won 3–0, maybe we would say something was missing. But the reality is we won and we have five goals,” he said.
“Of course we want a clean sheet, but for me I also see the goals we can score.”
Nigeria top the attacking charts at AFCON 2025 with five goals, 12 shots on target and an average possession rate of 61 per cent, the highest in the competition so far.
“In the last four competitive games, we scored between 10 and 12 goals. That is very good,” Chelle added. “We want to win, and I must find the best way for my team.”
With qualification already secured, focus has also turned to squad rotation. Ten of the 28 players in Nigeria’s AFCON squad are yet to feature, including Francis Uzoho, Igoh Ogbu, Cyriel Dessers, Raphael Onyedika, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Ryan Alebiosu and Tochukwu Nnadi.
Chelle confirmed that Stanley Nwabali and Frank Onyeka are being monitored for fitness concerns, while Victor Osimhen was assessed after picking up a knock against Tunisia.
Asked whether supporters could expect debuts against Uganda, Chelle offered no firm guarantees.
“Yes or no, maybe. We will see,” he said. “We have one more training session. After that, I will decide about the team, maybe the system, maybe another philosophy.”
Nigeria will secure top spot in Group C if they avoid defeat against Uganda, regardless of the outcome of the other group fixture between Tunisia and Tanzania.
For Chelle, the priority remains steady progress rather than immediate perfection. Nigeria are scoring consistently, expanding their squad depth and building momentum, even as defensive solidity continues to develop.
As AFCON 2025 moves towards the knockout phase, Chelle’s ability to balance attacking ambition with control may prove decisive in determining how far the Super Eagles advance.
