Nigeria head coach Eric Schiele has revealed that defeat against Egypt in the third-place match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations would have led him to step away from coaching altogether, admitting the emotional weight of the contest was unlike anything he had previously experienced in his career.
The Super Eagles secured the bronze medal after overcoming Egypt 4-2 on penalties in Casablanca on Saturday evening, following a tense goalless draw at the end of regulation time.
The result ensured Nigeria finished the tournament on the podium as the competition in Morocco moves toward its final showdown between hosts Morocco and Senegal.
Speaking in comments published by the Moroccan website Al-Botola, quoting broadcaster Canal+, Schiele was candid about the personal stakes attached to the match.
“Perhaps it would have been difficult for me to continue as a coach, if the Nigerian national team had not achieved third place,” he said.
The coach reflected on how the narrow margins of tournament football have shaped his journey, drawing comparisons with his earlier experiences at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Schiele recalled his first AFCON appearance with Mali, where he felt his side had been the standout team stylistically but fell short of expectations.
“I played my first Africa Cup of Nations with the Malian national team, and we were the best team playing football, then we were eliminated in the quarter-finals,” he explained. “Now in this edition, we were the best team in terms of play and philosophy, then we failed.”
Schiele went further, openly acknowledging that the disappointment of missing out on third place would have forced him to reconsider his future in the game.
“Yes, I could have stopped coaching,” Schiel said. “What would I have done if I had stopped? Perhaps I would have worked in training, or as a technical director with a certain national team.”
Despite Nigeria falling short of the final, the coach said the bronze-medal finish provided a sense of relief and pride, particularly given the emotional promises he had made before the tournament began.
“I am happy. I promised my father and mother that I would return with the African Cup title, but I apologize to them. I came in third place, and that is good for me,” he added.
Nigeria’s path to bronze was built on resilience and defensive discipline, as the Super Eagles did not concede a goal during the knockout stages in open play.
Against Egypt, both sides cancelled each other out over 90 minutes before the match was decided from the penalty spot, where Nigeria held their nerve to claim victory.
The third-place finish allowed Nigeria to close their AFCON campaign on a positive note, reaffirming their status among Africa’s elite teams while providing Schiele with renewed motivation to continue his coaching journey.
His remarks offered rare insight into the psychological demands placed on national team coaches at major tournaments, where success and failure can redefine careers in the space of a single match.
As AFCON 2025 draws to a close, Schiele’s honesty underscores the emotional intensity behind Nigeria’s bronze medal and the personal significance the achievement holds for the man on the touchline.
