Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has set his sights on winning the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations following Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
Chelle led Nigeria through an impressive AFCON campaign that earned plaudits for its attacking flair and tactical discipline. The Super Eagles finished as the tournament’s top scorers with 14 goals and did not concede from open play throughout the knockout rounds, underlining both offensive efficiency and defensive organisation.
Nigeria’s showing in Morocco has strengthened confidence in Chelle’s leadership, with the Nigeria Football Federation confirming the Malian tactician will remain in charge of the team. The performance marked a clear turnaround for the three-time African champions and renewed optimism around the squad’s long-term prospects.
Speaking after the tournament, Chelle said the experience had left him with mixed emotions but immense pride in his players. “It’s pride. It’s a relief,” he told Canal+ Sport Afrique. “I told my parents I was coming back with the trophy. I came back with third place, but that is already exceptional.”
The Super Eagles’ coach also praised the organisation of the Morocco tournament and the unity within his squad, describing the overall experience as “extraordinary”.
AFCON 2027 will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and Chelle believes the foundations laid in Morocco can be built upon ahead of the East African finals. “We’ll meet again in two years, and God willing, I’ll bring that trophy home,” he said.
With renewed belief and continuity on the bench, Chelle’s ambition is clear: to convert Nigeria’s promise into continental silverware in 2027.
