File: Nigeria Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has insisted Nigeria still have room for improvement at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, despite opening their campaign with a 2–1 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Forty-five years after beating the Taifa Stars 3-1 in the opening match of the 1980 AFCON in Lagos, Nigeria were made to work hard for another opening-day win, edging Tanzania 2-1 at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Morocco.
Centre-back Semi Ajayi gave the Super Eagles the lead in the 36th minute, rising highest to head home Alex Iwobi’s inswinging corner for his second international goal. However, Nigeria were pegged back shortly after the restart when Charles M’Mombwa struck the equaliser for Tanzania.
Former African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman restored Nigeria’s advantage almost immediately, but Chelle’s side had to show composure and defensive resolve in the closing stages to protect the lead as they began their quest for a fourth AFCON title.
Despite securing all three points, Chelle was critical of his team’s overall display, particularly their second-half performance. The Franco-Malian coach noted that Nigeria failed to build on a dominant first half in which they created several clear-cut chances.
“We have to analyse this win because we did a lot of good things in the first half to create chances to score,” Chelle said after the match. “We had many opportunities, but in the second half we gave Tanzania the chance to come back into the game. We made two mistakes.”
He added, “Of course we are happy with the three points, but at the AFCON the most important thing is to improve with every game. After our analysis, we have to continue to improve.”
Nigeria will next face Tunisia on Saturday, and Chelle expects a tougher challenge against the North Africans.
“Tunisia are a big team,” he said. “We have to improve defensively, and we need more movement both when we have the ball and when we don’t. I congratulate my players for the win, but we still have a lot of work to do.”
Runners-up at the last AFCON following a 2-1 defeat to hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria are targeting a fourth continental crown, having previously lifted the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
