Algeria Vs Nigeria: ‘To Win This Game, We Have to Score Goals’: Chelle Focused on Big Game in Marrakech
Nigeria coach Chelle has underlined the importance of finding the back of the net as the Super Eagles prepare for their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash against Algeria in Marrakech.
Speaking to the media ahead of the high-stakes encounter, Chelle stressed that victory will depend on his side’s ability to convert chances. ‘To win this game, we have to score goals,’ he declared, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested battle.
The fixture rekindles memories of the 2019 AFCON semi-final, when Riyad Mahrez’s dramatic late strike eliminated Nigeria. This time, the Super Eagles arrive as the highest-scoring team in the tournament, while Algeria, under coach Vladimir Petkovic, boast one of the meanest defenses, having conceded just once.
‘This is a game between two attacking teams that score lots of goals,’ Chelle explained. ‘If we have to score many goals, we will do that, and if we have to keep the score, we will do. We analyse the game, we try to find the weaknesses of the opponent, and we try to put in the heads of our team that we can pass through this door.’
With both sides in strong form, the quarter-final is expected to be a tight, finely balanced contest, where Nigeria’s attacking flair will be tested against Algeria’s defensive resilience.
On the bonus row, Chelle made it clear that his responsibility lies strictly with football matters.
‘My job is to try to stay focused about only what happens on the pitch and not outside. If you have other questions about things outside the pitch, you have to ask my federation.’
