Nigeria just can't catch a break when it involves penalties. Honestly, watching the Super Eagles crash out of the AFCON 2025 semi-finals against Morocco on Wednesday night felt like a bad case of déjà vu. We played well, maybe even better than the hosts for long stretches, but when the dust settled at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the scoreboard showed a 4-2 shootout loss after a grueling 120 minutes of 0-0 football.
Now, everyone is asking the same thing: What happens to Eric Chelle?
The Franco-Malian tactician was brought in back in January 2025 with one very specific mandate from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)—get this team to the final. He missed that mark by a whisker. In his post-match comments, Chelle didn't hide behind excuses. He basically said his future is in the hands of the NFF "president" and the board. He wants to stay, sure. He believes in the project. But in Nigerian football, "believing in the project" usually isn't enough when you don't bring home the trophy.
The Coaching Carousel and the 2026 World Cup Reality
The biggest bit of Nigerian Super Eagles news right now isn't actually about the AFCON bronze medal match against Egypt—it's about the existential crisis facing the team. Nigeria has already failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through the standard group phase. That’s a bitter pill. We are looking at a second consecutive World Cup miss, which hasn't happened since we first debuted in 1994.
However, there’s a tiny sliver of hope.
Because of the way the new format works, Nigeria still has a heartbeat in the CAF Playoffs. We’re scheduled to face Gabon in a high-stakes semi-final later this year. Chelle has been vocal about this, saying "nothing is impossible." But here’s the kicker: Does the NFF trust him to lead that charge after the Morocco heartbreak?
Some fans are calling for stability. Others want a "big name" European coach again. It's the classic Nigerian football debate that never truly ends. Chelle has overseen 13 matches, winning eight and losing only two. On paper, that’s a solid record. But the losses—the ones that actually matter—are the ones that stick in the throat of the fans.
Players in Focus: Osimhen, Lookman, and the New Guard
If you watched the tournament in Morocco, you saw a team that looks incredible for 80% of the pitch and then sometimes forgets how to talk to each other in the final third.
- Ademola Lookman: The reigning African Player of the Year was arguably our best player this tournament. He’s been the primary source of creativity, often carrying the burden when the midfield went quiet.
- Victor Osimhen: It’s been a weird one for him. He’s still the talisman, but the frustration is visible. During the quarter-final against Algeria, he had a bit of a meltdown, demanding a sub and skipping the post-match huddle. It sparked a massive row on Nigerian social media, with people questioning his discipline.
- Stanley Nwabali: He’s cemented himself as the undisputed Number 1. His heroics in the 2023 AFCON weren't a fluke. Even in the loss to Morocco, he was a giant.
Then you have the newcomers like Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Ryan Alebiosu. Chelle has been trying to integrate these younger, European-born players to replace the "old guard." With William Troost-Ekong officially retired from the national setup, the leadership vacuum is real. Wilfred Ndidi has taken the captain's armband, but the defensive line still feels like it’s missing that loud, organizing voice that Ekong provided for years.
Tactical Shifts: Is the 4-3-3 Working?
Chelle has stuck stubbornly to a 4-3-3 formation. It’s designed to unleash the pace of Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze on the wings while letting Alex Iwobi pull the strings in the middle.
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It looks great against Mozambique (which we thrashed 4-0 in the Round of 16). It looks less great against a disciplined, defensive unit like Tunisia or a high-pressing Morocco side. The midfield often feels disconnected from the attack. We’ve seen Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka doing a lot of "water carrying," but sometimes the transition to the forwards is just... slow.
Kinda frustrating, right?
We have some of the most expensive strikers in world football, yet we struggled to find the back of the net in the most important game of the year.
The Financial Cloud Hanging Over the Team
You can't talk about Nigerian Super Eagles news without mentioning the "allowances" issue. It's the ghost that never leaves the room. Just before the quarter-finals, there were reports of a strike threat. The players were reportedly unhappy about unpaid bonuses and travel arrangements.
The NFF usually settles these things at the eleventh hour, but you have to wonder how much that mental fatigue affects a player’s performance when they're standing over a penalty in a semi-final. It’s a systemic problem that seems to transcend whoever is coaching or playing.
What’s Next for the Super Eagles?
The immediate calendar is clear, but the long-term vision is blurry.
- The Bronze Medal Match: Nigeria faces Egypt on Saturday, January 17, 2026. It’s a pride game. No one really wants to play the third-place match, but winning it would at least give the fans something to smile about before the team flies back to their clubs.
- The Coaching Review: Expect a massive meeting in Abuja next week. The NFF Technical Committee will grill Chelle on why the team couldn't score in 120 minutes against Morocco. If they fire him, they have to find a replacement immediately before the World Cup playoff semi-final against Gabon.
- The Gabon Playoff: This is the "Do or Die" moment. If Nigeria misses the 2026 World Cup entirely, the financial and emotional fallout will be felt for a decade.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Stakeholders:
- Watch the Egypt Game: Pay attention to the squad rotation. If Chelle starts the youngsters like Akinsanmiro or Gabriel Osho, it's a sign he's building for the future and expects to stay.
- Monitor NFF Communiqués: The official word on Chelle's contract will likely drop within 72 hours of the AFCON final.
- Pressure for Reform: The recurring "unpaid bonus" saga needs a permanent fix (like an escrow system) if the Super Eagles are ever to maintain focus during month-long tournaments.
The talent is there. The passion is definitely there. But until the administration matches the quality of the players on the pitch, we might keep finding ourselves in this "almost" territory.