Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team faced an early exit at the CHAN 2024 tournament, leaving fans and analysts disappointed.
Head coach Eric Chelle revealed that the team’s lack of experience played a major role in their elimination at the group stage.
Placed in Group D with Senegal, Sudan, and Congo, Nigeria started the tournament with high hopes.
However, a late mistake against Senegal allowed the opponents to score and secure a win. The second match proved even tougher as Sudan scored four goals, confirming Nigeria’s early exit from the competition.
Despite the poor start, the team finished on a brighter note with a 2-0 win over Congo. Goals from Sikiru Alimi and Yusuf Anas gave the team some consolation, but it was too little to save their tournament hopes.
Experience Matters More Than Skill
After the games, Eric Chelle explained that inexperience at high-intensity matches was the main reason the team struggled.
He said that while the players worked hard and controlled parts of the games, they were not ready for the pressure from experienced teams like Senegal and Sudan.
“We tried our best. The players fought hard and showed determination. They did not want to leave without a win,” Chelle said. “But we need more experience. Teams like Senegal are used to this level of competition and can exploit small mistakes.”
Chelle admitted that the game against Sudan was especially painful for the players due to the high pressure. He added that while the team achieved a win in the final match, there were many regrets from earlier performances.
Next Challenge for Chelle
The French coach now faces a bigger test as he prepares Nigeria for World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa.
Winning these matches is crucial not only for progress in the qualifiers but also for maintaining fan support. Poor results could put Chelle’s position as Super Eagles coach in doubt ahead of AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
Chelle, who previously coached Mali, is focused on improving the team’s experience and composure in future matches. The challenge will be to combine the skill of Nigeria’s players with the mental strength needed to compete at higher levels.
