Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has expressed confidence in his squad ahead of their opening match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting the Super Eagles are well prepared despite notable absences.
Nigeria begin their Group campaign against Tanzania later today at the Fez Stadium, with kick-off set for 17:30 GMT.
The Super Eagles arrive at the tournament without experienced centre-back William Troost-Ekong, who has retired from international football, as well as Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina and highly rated 20-year-old defender Benjamin Fredrick, widely tipped as Troost-Ekong’s long-term successor.
However, Chelle, formerly in charge of Mali, played down concerns over the missing players and reaffirmed his belief in the available squad.
“I am not worried. I am trusting my guys. Of course, I prefer that all these other guys are here, but now I am with my guys here, and I trust them so much. We have a big defence, and we work a lot on that,” Chelle said as reported by ESPN.
The Nigerian tactician also stressed that defensive solidity is a collective responsibility rather than the duty of the back line alone.
“When you want to defend, this is not a question of only the defenders but a question about all the players on the pitch. Definitely, we are ready to play this game,” he added.
Nigeria will be hoping to start their AFCON campaign on a positive note as they face a determined Tanzanian side in their Group opener.
