Nigeria head coach Éric Sékou Chelle says his side met their objectives at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite missing out on a place in the final.
The Super Eagles reached the semi-finals of the tournament in Morocco before losing to the hosts on penalties, later claiming the bronze medal with victory over Egypt in the third-place play-off.
Nigeria arrived at the competition as strong contenders, having finished runners-up at the previous edition, and lived up to expectations during the group stage by winning all three of their matches.
Their run came to an end in the semi-finals after a tense penalty shoot-out defeat, a result Chelle believes did not overshadow the overall performance of his team.
Reflecting on the campaign, the former Mali coach stressed that the target set out in his contract had been achieved. “We were very good both on and off the pitch. My contract stipulated the semi-finals.
And I think we’ve reached that. But I won’t hide the fact that we, the players and I, wanted to win this cup,” he said on RMC’s After Afrique programme.
The penalty defeat echoed Nigeria’s recent disappointment in the 2026 World Cup play-offs, where they were beaten by the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Chelle, however, was keen to highlight the difference in approach between the two encounters. “Against Congo, we didn’t go into the match expecting a penalty shootout. However, against Morocco, we did want to play a penalty shootout,” he explained.
Nigeria’s progress to the semi-finals included a controlled quarter-final victory over Algeria, a match that generated debate after a penalty appeal went against Chelle’s side.
The coach acknowledged the fine margins involved but pointed to tactical discipline as the decisive factor. “I’m lucky. My team is lucky,” he said, before underlining the effort shown by his players.
“We put in the effort. When you play against Algeria and you’re behind, they’re the ones who control possession. And then, when I see Algeria’s lineup without Bounedjah, I tell my players we’re going to put even more pressure on them.”
Despite falling short of lifting the trophy, Nigeria’s consistent displays and podium finish under Chelle have provided a platform to build on, with the coach insisting the experience gained will serve the squad well going forward.
