Chelle: ‘I Didn’t Recognize My Team in the First Half’

Nigeria’s CHAN head coach Eric Chelle delivered a brutally honest assessment of his team’s performance following their 1–0 defeat to defending champions Senegal in their opening Group D match at the 2024 African Nations Championship.

Speaking after the match at the Amani Stadium in Zanzibar, Chelle admitted he was stunned by his team’s lack of intensity and urgency, especially in the first half.

‘I didn’t recognize my team in the first half,’ Chelle said at the post-match presser.

‘Senegal was more aggressive, more focused. We lost every duel and created no chances. That’s not how we play football.’

The decisive goal came in the 75th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse that Chelle described as ‘self-inflicted.’

While Nigeria showed brief flashes of attacking intent in the second half, the coach emphasized that short bursts of quality are not enough at this level.

‘We only played for 20 minutes in the second half,’ he added. ‘We need to be more ambitious, more aggressive. You can’t win matches if you lose every duel.’

Chelle also praised the overall quality of the tournament, noting the fast-paced nature of the matches and the excellent playing conditions. He admitted the intensity of CHAN 2024 caught him by surprise, but insisted Nigeria must quickly adapt if they hope to progress.

With a crucial match against Sudan looming, Chelle called for a complete shift in mentality.

‘We need to change our state of mind. If we’re scared or passive, we’ll be going back to Nigeria early. We must fight for every ball.’

Despite the setback, Chelle remains hopeful. He believes the team has the talent to bounce back, but only if they embrace the physical and mental demands of the competition.