Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has opened up about an emotional moment he shared with Victor Osimhen during Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco, revealing that a brief exchange with the striker reduced him to tears.
Chelle said the incident occurred ahead of the third-place playoff against Egypt, a period when Osimhen was struggling with injury.
Determined to finish the tournament strongly, the coach encouraged his talisman to push for one final effort, while also expressing deep appreciation for his commitment throughout the competition.
“I told him that we absolutely had to go for that third place. But I could see that he was injured, that things weren’t going well at all. So I told him: ‘I’m proud of what you’ve done since I took over this team. If you ever need me, whatever happens in your life, you call me, I’ll come,” Chelle told After Foot RMC.
Osimhen’s response, Chelle admitted, caught him completely off guard.
“Coach, maybe you were a small coach, but now you are a great coach.”
The Super Eagles boss said he broke down in tears, calling it one of the most emotional moments of his coaching career.
Nigeria’s AFCON campaign was defined by grit and consistency. The Super Eagles swept through the group stage with victories over Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda, before dismantling Mozambique 4-0 in the Round of 16 and edging Algeria 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
Their journey to the final ended in the semifinals against hosts Morocco, where they were beaten 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw in Rabat.
Nigeria, however, responded emphatically in the bronze-medal match, defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties following another 0-0 stalemate in Casablanca.
Despite carrying a hamstring injury, Osimhen played a pivotal role, scoring four goals and providing two assists in six appearances.
His performances earned him a place in CAF’s Team of the Tournament, underlining his importance to Nigeria’s impressive run.
