The Super Eagles have put behind the huge success of the group phase and are now focused on putting on their proper knockout competition gear, ahead of Monday’s Round of 16 clash with the Mambas of Mozambique at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Coach Eric Sékou Chelle, selected as the Coach of the Group Phase, alongside two-goal and two-assist forward Ademola Lookman, put 25 players through their paces at Friday evening’s training session at the Sardienne Complex in Fès.
England-based defender Ryan Alebiosu did not participate as he is recovering from a leg injury incurred during Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat of Uganda’s Cranes to make for a perfect nine points out of nine in the group phase.
Greece-based forward Cyriel Dessers has returned to his club, owing to a thigh injury, while midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi, who featured as a second-half substitute against the Cranes on Tuesday, has a cold and did not train.
Chelle has drummed it into the players’ ears that knockout character must be assumed as they look forward to Monday’s crunch encounter, with pragmatism to be preferred over sensationalism.
Following the group phase matches, Nigeria has now scored a total of 152 goals in 107 matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, since their debut at the finals in Ghana in 1963.
Chelle is unbeaten in regulation time in 13 competitive matches for Nigeria, since his first outing with the Super Eagles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali on 21st March last year, and has seen his playing personnel walk off the pitch heads bowed only on two occasions – the FIFA World Cup sudden-death penalty heartbreak against DR Congo in Rabat in November and the 1-2 friendly reverse against the Pharaohs of Egypt in Cairo last month.
On his selection as Coach of the Group Phase, Chelle said: “I am happy about this recognition. But I will like to give the credit to my backroom staff who work tirelessly to make the team function. This development is a good motivation for me, the players and the entire squad.
“However, this is not why we are here. We are here for something bigger and better. We will not get ahead of ourselves and think we are the best. We will continue to work hard and stay focused for every match as it comes.”
ÉRIC SÉKOU CHELLE’S SUPER EAGLES DIARY
21 Mar 2025: Rwanda 0-2 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Kigali)
25 Mar 2025: Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
28 May 2025: Nigeria 2-1 Ghana (Unity Cup: London)
31 May 2025: Jamaica 2-2 Nigeria (Unity Cup: London)
. Nigeria win 5-4 on penalties to retain the trophy
06 Jun 2025: Russia 1-1 Nigeria (Friendly: Moscow)
06 Sep 2025: Nigeria 1-0 Rwanda (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
09 Sep 2025: South Africa 1-1 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Bloemfontein)
10 Oct 2025: Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Polokwane)
14 Oct 2025: Nigeria 4-0 Bénin Republic (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
13 Nov 2025: Gabon 1-4 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Playoff: Rabat)
16 Nov 2025: DR Congo 1-1 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Playoff: Rabat)
. DR Congo win 4-3 on penalties
16 Dec 2025: Egypt 2-1 Nigeria (Friendly: Cairo)
23 Dec 2025: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (AFCON: Fès, Morocco)
27 Dec 2025: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia (AFCON: Fès, Morocco)
30 Dec 2025: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria (AFCON: Fès, Morocco)
PHOTO 2: Two-goal hero Raphael Onyedika against Uganda’s Travis Mutyaba on Tuesday