Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau has stated that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has been given a clear mandate to reach the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
With Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup still fresh, attention has now shifted to the AFCON tournament, scheduled to kick off on December 21, 2025, in Morocco. Expectations are high as fans look to the continental competition for redemption.
The Super Eagles have been drawn into Group C, where they will face former champions Tunisia, as well as Uganda and Tanzania, in the group stage.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Nigerian football legend Dr Segun Odegbami on Eagle7 103.7 FM’s Saturday programme, 90 Minutes With Mathematical7, Gusau made it clear that Chelle’s target is unambiguous. According to him, the coach is expected to guide Nigeria all the way to the final.
When asked if reaching the final would be considered a successful outing for Chelle, Gusau responded in the affirmative, insisting that meeting that target would mean the coach had delivered on his mandate.
Meanwhile, the announcement of the Super Eagles’ final AFCON squad sparked widespread reactions, with some fans questioning the inclusion and exclusion of certain players. This led to allegations that the NFF may have influenced the selection process.
Gusau firmly dismissed those claims, stressing that neither he nor the federation had any involvement in choosing the final squad. He maintained that he has never pressured any national team coach to include specific players, adding that football selection has become more scientific and is now based on form, playing time, and tactical fit rather than external interests.
