Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has expressed strong confidence in his squad ahead of the Super Eagles’ opening match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The three-time champions begin their Group campaign against Tanzania later today at the Fez Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 17:30 GMT.
Nigeria arrived at the tournament with defensive setbacks, missing several key players. Former captain William Troost-Ekong has retired from international football, while Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina and highly rated 20-year-old centre-back Benjamin Fredrick are also absent from the squad.
Despite the challenges, Chelle remains unfazed, insisting he has complete faith in the players available to him.
“I am not worried. I am trusting my guys. Of course, I would have preferred all the other guys to be here, but now I am with my guys here, and I trust them so much. We have a strong defence, and we work a lot on that,” Chelle said, as reported by ESPN.
The Nigerian tactician also stressed that defending is a collective responsibility, not just the duty of the backline.
“When you want to defend, this is not a question of only the defenders but a question about all the players on the pitch. Definitely, we are ready to play this game,” he added.
The Super Eagles will be aiming for a strong start to their AFCON campaign as they pursue a fourth continental title.
