Eric Chelle speaks on his Nigeria future after AFCON 2025

Eric Chelle, who is the head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has shared an update on if he would manage the team after AFCON 2025.

Head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Eric Chelle, has acknowledged that his future with the Super Eagles remains unclear after their semifinal exit at the Africa Cup of Nations, following a dramatic loss to hosts Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday.

The Super Eagles bowed out of the title race after falling 4–2 on penalties, with neither side able to find the breakthrough during regulation time or extra time, as the contest ended goalless after 120 minutes.

Despite the setback, Nigeria still have a chance to finish the tournament on the podium and will take on Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday.

Chelle addresses uncertainty over his role

Speaking during his post-match press conference, Chelle was open about the uncertainty surrounding his position as head coach once the tournament concludes.

“At the moment, I don’t know what will happen next,” he said. “I am Nigeria’s coach today, but in two days my president may tell me it is over, or he may ask me to continue. I honestly don’t know.”

Even in defeat, Chelle praised his players for their efforts throughout the competition, stating that he believed Nigeria had been one of the standout teams at the tournament.

“I feel proud of my players, even though I am disappointed for them,” he explained. “In my opinion, we were maybe the best team at this AFCON. That is why it hurts, but we have to react.”

Focus remains on final match

Chelle stressed that discussions about his contract or future should wait until after the tournament, insisting that the immediate priority is finishing strongly against Egypt.

“This is not the moment to talk about my situation,” he added. “The AFCON is not finished yet. We still have one more game, and our focus must be on winning that match.”

With a bronze medal still up for grabs, the Super Eagles will be aiming to channel their semifinal disappointment into a strong performance against Egypt and bring their AFCON campaign to a positive close.

Read the Latest AFCON 2025 News Today and Get Fresh updates as they drop via X and Facebook