Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle, has declared that Nigeria must not leave the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations empty-handed, insisting that his team will fight hard to clinch third place.
The three-time African champions are set to face Egypt’s Pharaohs in the third-place match on Saturday at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Nigeria finished runners-up at the previous AFCON hosted by Côte d’Ivoire, and Chelle believes the team must at least improve on that disappointment by ending the tournament on a positive note.
“We have to go back to Nigeria with the third place,” Chelle said while speaking to journalists on Friday.
The Malian tactician has earned praise for guiding the Super Eagles to an impressive outing in Morocco, despite the challenges faced during the competition.
Looking beyond the tournament, the 48-year-old hinted at plans to refresh the squad, even as uncertainty surrounds his future with the national team.
“If God gives me the chance to continue as coach after the AFCON, I would like to bring in more players into the team,” Chelle added.
Nigeria will be hoping to cap off their AFCON 2025 campaign with victory against Egypt and return home with a consolation medal.
