Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has acknowledged that his side fell short in key areas following their dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Morocco at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
Speaking candidly after the match, Chelle admitted that Nigeria lacked intensity and technical sharpness, while giving full credit to the host nation for their performance.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow The Lagos Voice on WhatsApp channel for latest updates
“We missed a lot of things: the intensity, technically, in the movement. Morocco, deserves this victory,” Chelle said.
Despite the shortcomings, the Super Eagles pushed the Atlas Lions all the way, forcing the contest into penalties before ultimately exiting the tournament.
While conceding defeat, Chelle was quick to defend his squad’s mentality and commitment, highlighting their determination throughout the encounter.
“Our state of mind was good. We fought on every ball,” he said.
The Nigerian coach stressed that, despite external doubts before kickoff, his players responded positively on the pitch.
“Before this game, I talked in the press conference and I said something. Everybody tried to say this is a bluff or I’m a liar. For sure, it was not easy for us, but the players gave a good response with their state of mind.”
