The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has handed Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, a clear mandate ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with the team expected to reach at least the semi-finals of the tournament.
Chelle reportedly held a strategic meeting with the NFF Technical Committee in Abuja on Monday, during which the performance expectations for the national team were outlined. The federation is said to have emphasized the need for major improvements following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In addition to meeting the semi-final target, the Malian tactician has been instructed to rejuvenate the senior national team by introducing new talents capable of elevating the squad’s competitiveness.
Chelle is expected to unveil a 28-man provisional list for AFCON 2025 later this week as preparations intensify.
Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Super Eagles begin their campaign on December 23 with a crucial opening match against Tanzania.
The three-time African champions will be aiming to build on their performance in the last edition hosted in Côte d’Ivoire, where they finished as runners-up after losing in the final.
