AFCON: Nigeria coach Eric Chelle focused ahead of Algeria clash

Eric Chelle, the head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, has stated that the Super Eagles are focused on winning their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final duel with Algeria’s Fennecs.

The match, which features the only two teams with a 100% win record in the 2025 AFCON, will be held at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Saturday.

Speaking during Friday’s pre-match press conference, Chelle acknowledged that he and the squad are “locked in” for the encounter.

“It is my job to stay focus on matters on the pitch and that’s where my job is.

The most important thing is your objective in the group and our state of mind is good we are ready, physically we are ready, tactically I have to make some choice.

I prefer to stay focus on the pitch and do my job and bring my motivation to this group.”

Regarding the team’s preparation for the high-stakes clash, the Malian tactician expressed confidence in his players’ readiness.

“We’ve tried to find the weaknesses of the opponent and we try to put it into the head of our team that we can go past this obstacle.

This is the quarter-finals and your state of mind is very important because you have to manage the pressure, manage the opponent and what your coach ask you. So, this is what we try to work on every day and I believe we will be ready for the game tomorrow.”

The history between the two sides is storied. Algeria triumphed in their last AFCON meeting—a 2019 semi-final where Riyad Mahrez scored a dramatic winner from a free-kick in added time.

Saturday’s match marks the 25th senior-level meeting between the nations. The Fennecs have won 10 times, while the Super Eagles have secured nine regulation-time victories.

Of their five draws, Nigeria famously claimed one via a penalty shootout during the 1988 AFCON, also hosted by Morocco. After a 1-1 draw through extra time, Nigeria emerged 9-8 winners in a marathon shootout that saw some players forced to step up to the spot twice.