Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has revealed that his future with the national team would have been in serious doubt if Nigeria had lost to Egypt in the third-place match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by the Pharaohs in regulation time during the playoff encounter, which took place in Casablanca. With neither side able to find a breakthrough, the match was decided by a penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero, saving spot-kicks from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to help the Super Eagles secure a 4-2 victory on penalties. The win ensured Nigeria claimed the AFCON bronze medal for the ninth time in the tournament’s history.
Reflecting on the outcome after the match, Chelle admitted that a different result could have had serious implications for his role with the team. “It would have been difficult to continue as the head coach of Nigeria, if we had lost this match,” Chelle said.
The hard-fought victory not only earned Nigeria a place on the podium but also brought relief for the coach, whose position might have come under scrutiny had the Eagles fallen short.
