AFCON Final Minimum Target As NFF Sets Clear Benchmark for Chelle

AFCON Final Minimum Target As NFF Sets Clear Benchmark for Chelle

By BSN Sports 

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau has issued a firm directive to newly appointed Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, stating that only a place in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be considered an acceptable outcome.

Speaking during an interview on Eagle FM, excerpts of which were shared on social media, Gusau made it clear that the Malian tactician has been handed a high-stakes mandate ahead of the tournament, which will be staged in Morocco later this year.

“The mandate given to Eric Chelle is to get to the AFCON final,” Gusau said, underscoring the federation’s expectations and leaving little ambiguity over the benchmarks set for the 47-year-old coach.

Chelle’s appointment has been met with mixed reactions within Nigerian football circles. The former Mali assistant coach and ex-Djoliba AC manager was selected ahead of several more established candidates, a decision that sparked debate among fans and analysts.

With AFCON 2025 approaching, Gusau’s ultimatum raises the stakes considerably. Anything short of a final appearance will be viewed as failure, a position that reflects both the federation’s ambition and the intense scrutiny facing a coach still settling into one of African football’s most demanding roles.

Nigeria last lifted the AFCON trophy in 2013, defeating Burkina Faso to claim their third continental title. Since then, the Super Eagles have endured a series of near-misses, including a group-stage exit in 2021 and a runner-up finish at the 2023 edition, where they lost the final to hosts Ivory Coast

Despite the firm target, Gusau insisted that Chelle has been granted full technical independence.

“I will never tell a coach to pick this or that player,” he said. “I have never stayed in one hotel with the national team since I became NFF President. I don’t want to be a distraction.”

The comments mark a notable shift in tone from previous administrations, which have often been criticised for interference in team affairs. However, with that autonomy comes clear accountability. Failure to meet the AFCON final target would leave Chelle under intense pressure, with limited room for justification.

Chelle has already attracted attention with his first squad list for AFCON 2025, introducing several new players while omitting some established names, including experienced defender Ola Aina. Those decisions are expected to be closely scrutinised as Nigeria’s preparations intensify.

The Super Eagles boast a talented roster featuring striker Victor Osimhen, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi. Yet history has shown that talent alone does not guarantee success in AFCON’s demanding tournament environment.

Nigeria has been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania. With kickoff scheduled for December in Morocco, expectations among fans remain high after years of frustration and near success.

For Chelle, the task is clear and uncompromising: reach the AFCON final or risk an early end to his tenure. As preparations continue, one of the most pressurised coaching assignments in African football is already underway.