Algeria’s exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues to be dissected, with Nigeria coach Eric Chelle pointing to key tactical decisions that he believes played into the Super Eagles’ hands during the quarter-final clash.
A month after Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over the Fennecs, Chelle has reflected publicly on the match, suggesting that several choices made by Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic made it easier for his side to impose their game plan.
Speaking, the Nigerian coach said he felt confident even before kick-off when Algeria’s starting line-up was announced.
“When I saw the starting eleven, I thought it was going in our favor,” he confided.
Chelle explained that his tactical approach was shaped by a deep understanding of Algerian football.
Aware of the technical quality within the Fennecs squad, he said Nigeria deliberately opted for an aggressive, high-intensity strategy to prevent Algeria from settling on the ball.
“The Algerian player is very technical, he likes to play with the ball. If you let him express himself, you suffer. I made the choice of total intensity,” explains Chelle.
According to the Nigerian coach, Algeria struggled to cope with that pressure, particularly in the absence of a focal point in attack.
Chelle singled out the decision to leave Baghdad Bounedjah out of the starting line-up, describing it as a turning point in how the match unfolded.
“Without a player capable of holding the ball with his back to goal, it’s much easier to suffocate a team,” he analyzes.
Nigeria’s pressing game disrupted Algeria’s rhythm throughout the contest, and Chelle admitted he was surprised that the Fennecs did not attempt to change their approach after the interval.
The lack of visible adjustments only strengthened Nigeria’s belief that their plan was working.
“I was expecting changes at half-time. In the end, nothing happened, and that made us even more confident,” he revealed.
Chelle also suggested that certain tactical options he had anticipated from Algeria never materialised.
Among them was the potential inclusion of Abdelli, a move he believed could have helped slow Nigeria’s momentum and bring greater balance to the contest.
All these elements, in Chelle’s view, contributed to Algeria’s inability to respond effectively as the match progressed.
Nigeria maintained control and capitalised on their superiority, ultimately securing a place in the semi-finals and bringing an end to Algeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign.
The comments add further scrutiny to Algeria’s elimination, as attention remains focused on the strategic choices that shaped one of the tournament’s decisive encounters.
