AFCON Qualifiers: Super Eagles ready for Madagascar test — Chelle

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Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has said pressure comes with managing Nigeria’s national team, insisting that his players must remain mentally prepared as they begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

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Nigeria will host Madagascar in their opening Group L qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Friday, with the Super Eagles expected to start the campaign on a positive note.

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Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Chelle said the team would not shy away from the expectations surrounding the national side but would instead embrace the demands that come with the job.

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“We don’t manage the pressure. We try to deal with the pressure. This is our job. The pressure is a part of the job,” Chelle said.

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The coach also stressed the importance of avoiding a slow start, recalling Nigeria’s struggles at the beginning of the previous World Cup qualifying campaign.

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“We know the experiences of the last World Cup. We started really, really poor, really bad. It will never happen again because this is a focused team,” he said.

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Chelle said victory in the opening fixture would provide the momentum and confidence required for the remaining matches.

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“We are planning to set the momentum because the first game is the most important game of every competition. This is qualifiers. The first game sets the momentum. So it gives us the confidence to go for the other games coming,” he added.

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The Franco-Malian tactician expressed confidence in the quality of his squad, describing the Super Eagles as one of the continent’s leading teams.

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“For me, of course, this is the best team in Africa, and maybe this team has a good ranking in the world. So we are motivated,” he said.

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Chelle said he expected his players to approach the encounter with the right mentality, stressing that their mindset would be crucial to their performance.

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“My players are very good. They have a good state of mind. They understand everything. So, like I said every time, this is not a question of winning or losing. This is a question of state of mind,” he said.

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The coach also warned against underestimating Madagascar, pointing to the Barea’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

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“For sure it will be a difficult game because Madagascar, this is not a tough team. This is a big team. I think they won against Nigeria in 2019. So we have to be ready. It will be a fight,” Chelle said.

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On Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye’s late arrival in camp, Chelle explained that the player had been granted permission to attend an event organised by his club.

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“The club of Udinese asked me to let him make an event for the club. He was supposed to come before, but he’s not here. So I will manage the situation because I have to take some decisions,” he said.

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Chelle also confirmed that injuries had affected the squad but maintained that Nigeria had sufficient options to cope with the absences.

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“We have a lot of injuries. So this is not a problem for us. We have a group. Of course, I prefer that these guys are with us. But we have to work on it. So we are ready to play that game,” he said.

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