CAN 2025: Éric Chelle keeps everyone guessing about his future as Nigeria’s head coach

After the elimination of the Super Eagles in the semifinal against Morocco, Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle refused to look beyond the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, stating he would stay fully focused on the third-place match against Egypt.

The Super Eagles’ coach, Eric Chelle, has kept the speculation about his future at the helm of Nigeria after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The coach spoke on Wednesday evening, after the Nigerians were eliminated in the semifinal against Morocco (4-2). Even before the tournament kicked off, speculation already surrounded the future of the 48-year-old on the Super Eagles’ bench.

When asked about the issue, Chelle nonetheless sought to refocus the debate on the immediate sporting news, ensuring that all his attention was now turned toward the third-place match against Egypt, scheduled for Saturday. “For now, I am still the Super Eagles’ coach“, he said. “I have a match against Egypt and I want to win it.“

Questioned about a possible replacement of the suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi by Raphael Onyedika, the coach recalled the importance of the group: “It’s not about a single player, but the group”. For reference, the Nigeria-Egypt third-place playoff is scheduled for next Saturday, starting at 5:00 PM (GMT+1).