Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh stands firmly behind coach Eric Chelle despite World Cup heartbreak

Former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh is staunchly supporting Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle amidst criticism over the team’s World Cup qualification failure.

The West African football heavyweight’s quest of securing qualification to the global showpiece took a nosedive following defeat to DR Congo in the African playoff early November. The defeat was a significant blow for Eric Chelle’s team and sparked criticism from both fans and football analysts.

However, Oliseh, who previously raised concerns about Chelle’s capabilities has made a U-turn, offering a different perspective, praising his dedication and the strides he has made with the team.

The former captain admitted he was initially skeptical about Chelle’s appointment but has since been impressed by the coach’s work.

“I am one of those who was totally unhappy when he was appointed, but I must be honest, he has won me over,” Oliseh said. “I feel like the man has really given it a lot, he’s done a lot, and he’s picked up some points, better than any of the two people that preceded him.”

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will hold camp in Egypt ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament to be staged in Morocco next month.

Nigeria will pitch camp in Egypt for a comprehensive training in an attempt to acclimatize with the North African weather before the commencement of the tournament in Morocco.

Africasoccer.com understands that all plans have been finalized for the team to settle into their temporary base in North Africa for the tournament.

Players are expected to report to camp on Wednesday, December 10, marking the official start of their build-up. Nigeria has been drawn into Group C, where they will face Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The three-time African champions will open their AFCON 2025 journey with a match against Tanzania on Tuesday, December 23, in Fez.

The tournament will be hosted by Morocco, running from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.