SUPER Eagles coach Eric Chelle is optimistic Nigeria can clinch the title when the games of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) begin in Morocco later in the year.
Mr Chelle was speaking against the backdrop of the AFCON draws pitting Nigeria in Group C of the tournament with Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania. He said it is going to be a hard-fought AFCON with every team eager to do well, but he is banking on the quality of his team and his plans to reach the final.
“It’s going to be a difficult tournament with 24 teams. Great teams and great coaches as well. Nigeria also has a great coach. So all that I know for now for sure is that we will have a great team and we will have fun,” Chelle said.
The AFCON is not new terrain for Chelle who led the Malian Eagles to the last eight of the 2023 tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.
In the same competition, the Super Eagles reached the final under coach Jose Peseiro, only to succumb to pressure from the home team losing 2-1 to the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
Any result short of the 2023 silver placing would be hard to take by Nigerian fans.
Chelle needs to convince Nigerians he is up to the task of leading the Super Eagles when they tackle Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifiers in March.
Eighteen-Eleven Media