Nigeria boss Eric Chelle believes his team’s third-place finish at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has provided a solid foundation to build on moving forward.
The Super Eagles secured a 4-2 penalty shootout win against Egypt after a goalless draw in normal time.
The result saw the Super Eagles finish on the podium at AFCON for the 17th time in their history in 21 appearances (three titles, five times runner-up and nine times third).
Indeed, their nine third-place finishes at the tournament are more than double that of any other team in that position, though they have failed to win the title since 2013.
Nigeria’s displays at AFCON came after it failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, after losing to DR Congo, which advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs.
It is the first time Nigeria has failed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups since a run of six between 1970 and 1990, but Chelle believes his team is on the right track.
“Being a coach is never easy. At one point I felt disappointed, not because the players fell short, but because they gave everything they had until exhaustion,” Chelle said.
“Today, as I stand here, I feel great pride in them. I am very proud to be the coach of the Nigerian national team.
“This team gave everything — not only in this match, but over the past two months and throughout a full year of continuous work. What we achieved did not come by chance.
“There was a great deal of work done by the players. Building a strong group is not easy. Managing different personalities requires calm and patience.
“But the players responded in the best possible way. The players gave everything for me, for the coaching staff, and for the country.
“This match is not just a one-night story. It is part of a longer journey that concerns the future of this team.
“We will build on this experience, and it will be the foundation for the next phase of work. We tried different ideas, tested multiple approaches, and learned from every situation.”
