The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that Eric Chelle will continue as head coach of the Super Eagles following the team’s third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau announced the decision in a statement released on the federation’s official website after Nigeria defeated Egypt 4–2 on penalties in the bronze medal match.
Gusau acknowledged that the Super Eagles’ original target for the tournament had been the championship but expressed satisfaction with how the team competed.
“Actually, when we landed in Morocco towards the end of last year, our objective was to win the AFCON trophy and be the champions of Africa,” he said.
“Today, we finished in third place and won the bronze medals instead. We missed our target, but my joy is in the way our team played. They have played with zest and patriotic fervour, and showed resilience and character.”
The bronze medal match, held at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, ended goalless after 90 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout. Nigeria converted four of its five penalties, while goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two attempts, including stops from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, to secure victory.
The win marked Nigeria’s ninth AFCON bronze medal and continued the country’s unbeaten record in third-place playoff games.
On the Ivory-Coast-born Franco-Malian manager, Gusau said, “Mr. Chelle has done exceedingly well within the one year he has been with us. He has shown enormous capacity and we will continue to work with him.”
Chelle’s position as head coach had been under scrutiny immediately after the tournament with the Franco-Malian confirming the NFF will decide his future. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a playoff loss to DR Congo, leading to calls from former players and analysts for his dismissal.
Following the tournament, Gusau emphasised that the NFF would continue to work with Chelle and support the squad in future competitions.
The decision ensures Chelle’s continuity at the helm of the Super Eagles, ending weeks of speculation over his future and setting the stage for Nigeria to build on the experiences of AFCON 2025 while recovering from the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup.
