Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has hinted at the possibility of rotating his squad for Nigeria’s final Group C match against Uganda’s Cranes in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The game, scheduled for Tuesday, comes with Nigeria already assured of a place in the knockout round.
Chelle’s side booked progression after consecutive wins, first overcoming Tanzania 2-1 and then edging Tunisia 3-2 in a tense encounter on Saturday. Uganda, by contrast, must defeat Nigeria to keep its hopes of reaching the round of 16 alive.
Speaking at Monday’s press conference, Chelle emphasised the importance of giving opportunities to players who have not yet featured in the tournament. “Everybody deserves a chance to show something because a player who played just five minutes at the AFCON can score the decisive goal,” he said. “This is a question about management and not a lack of respect for the tournament.”
Despite discussing rotation, Chelle affirmed his intent to field a competitive team. “For me, I want to put out the best team. I want to win. The players want to win this game,” he stated, signalling that victory remains the top priority.
Addressing injury concerns, the coach downplayed any major issues. “There are no serious injuries. Some players have issues with their knees or ankles, but they want to play. We will see after the last training session,” Chelle added.
Chelle also defended his previous substitution choices, noting that tactical adjustments are part of the game. “When I make substitutions, I analyse what is happening in the game. Sometimes the choice works very well, sometimes it doesn’t. That is football,” he explained.
He concluded by emphasising the team’s performance so far. “The reality is that we won. The reality is that we scored goals. That is also important,” Chelle said, highlighting Nigeria’s strong start in the tournament.
