Super Eagles: This isn’t time to talk about World Cup qualifiers – Eric Chelle shifts focus to AFCON

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has redirected his full attention to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria missed out on the World Cup after a loss to DR Congo in the final round of African qualifiers. This marks the team’s second consecutive absence from the global tournament.

Leaving World Cup Disappointment Behind

Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s AFCON opener, Chelle said the World Cup setback must be set aside. He stressed that the team’s focus is now on succeeding at AFCON.

The former Mali coach warned that dwelling on past failures could distract players from their current mission.

“We are here, we have a game tomorrow, and we also have a tournament to play. We don’t have time to think about what has happened before,” Chelle said.

“This is not the moment to talk about the World Cup qualifiers. For now, the most important thing is this tournament.”

Opening Match Crucial for Super Eagles

Chelle also highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s opening Group C match against Tanzania in Morocco.

“Our first game is a big game. The first game is always very important, and of course, we want to win,” he added.

The Super Eagles will take on Tanzania at the Fez Stadium in Fes on Tuesday, December 23.