Following the Super Eagles’ 4-2 penalty shoot-out defeat to Morocco in the 2025 AFCON semi-final, Nigeria’s Head Coach, Eric Chelle, commended the mental fortitude of his squad.
Addressing the media after the intense match in Rabat, Chelle acknowledged that while the loss was painful, he maintained that his players gave their all on the field.
He noted that “The match was never easy, but the players showed strong mentality and fought for every ball,” after a goalless draw persisted through regulation and extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
The encounter, which was widely regarded as a “final before the final”, saw both teams demonstrate significant caution and discipline.
Chelle revealed that Nigeria utilized an aggressive pressing strategy to stifle the Moroccan attack, explaining that “We pressed high because if you don’t press, you leave spaces and the situation becomes very complicated,” he stated.
However, the coach also conceded that the team did not meet its typical technical benchmarks, observing a deficiency in movement and energy during critical periods of the game.
Reflecting on the performance, Chelle remarked that “Technically, we were not at the level of our previous matches. I won’t blame fatigue, but we lacked movement and power,” Chelle said.
Despite these technical struggles, the Super Eagles maintained a strong defensive front, highlighted by Calvin Bassey’s impressive work at the back and a notable performance from goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who pulled off a “superb one-handed save” against Hamza Igmane during the shoot-out.
Ultimately, unsuccessful penalty attempts by Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi allowed Morocco to clinch the victory.
Looking ahead, Chelle encouraged his team to stay resilient as they prepare for the third-place play-off against Egypt in Casablanca this Saturday.
He reminded the players that “We worked hard throughout the tournament. This is football, and we must continue working,” he said.
Nigeria’s upcoming opponents, Egypt, reached the bronze-medal match after a 1-0 loss to Senegal, which was settled by a late goal from Sadio Mane.
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