The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that Eric Chelle will continue as head coach of the Super Eagles following the conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The tournament, which ran from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, saw Nigeria fall short of its target of reaching the final and winning the trophy.
The Super Eagles lost to Morocco in the semi-final but secured bronze after defeating Egypt in the third-place playoff.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau said in a statement published on the federation’s official website that while the target was to win the trophy, the federation accepted the bronze medal because of the team’s strong display.
“The team’s target was to win the trophy, but we accept the bronze medal because of the diligent display by the Super Eagles,” Gusau stated.
He praised the squad’s leadership and confirmed that the federation would continue to encourage the team under Chelle’s guidance. “The captain is one to be proud of, and we will continue to work with Chelle,” he added.
The Super Eagles’ victory over Egypt gave them a record-extending ninth AFCON bronze medal, maintaining their streak of never losing a third-place playoff match.
Chelle’s Reaction and Future Plans
Speaking after the win against Egypt, Chelle admitted that his future would have been uncertain had Nigeria lost the bronze medal match. “It would have been difficult to continue if we had lost,” he said.
However, Chelle expressed his desire to remain in charge of the team. “We will build on this experience, and it will be the foundation for the next phase of work,” he noted.
Despite failing to qualify Nigeria for the fifa-world-cup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 FIFA World Cup, Chelle has received widespread support from fans who applauded the team’s performance in Morocco and want him to continue.
Tunisia Offer
Mr Chelle has also received a lucrative offer to coach the Tunisian national team at the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Tunisia parted ways with head coach Sami Trabelsi after their Round of 16 elimination at AFCON 2025, leaving the position vacant just six months before the global tournament.
While Chelle has expressed interest in continuing with Nigeria, the offer from Tunisia adds intrigue to his future, raising questions about whether he will stay loyal to the Super Eagles or accept a new challenge on the world stage.
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