As the Super Eagles gear up to play their last CHAN 2024 game against Congo Brazaville, the head coach of the team, Eric Chelle has declared that they must win the match, the last match of their 2024 Africa Nations Championship.
The Super Eagles B team have lost two matches out of three games leaving only pride to play for. They lost 1- to defending champions, Senegal after a defensive mix-up from centre back, Leo Ngenge and goalkeeper, Mustapha Lawal. They fell like a pack of cards 7 days after to Sudan 4-0 with Leo Ngenge scoring an own goal and giving away a penalty.
Eric Chelle and his 23 man squad now has only Tuesday after another 7 days to bow out of the tournament with some dignity. The team and Niger Republic are the only two countries yet to score a goal in this tournament.
With a new stadium to play in as the final game for the Super Eagles B will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa stadium in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania capital city, the team carry new expectations on their shoulder.
Watch the full pre-match conference of Eric Chelle on the NPFL Tori Podcast YouTube page
CHAN 2024: Eric to finish high
“the reality is we have lost two games, we made lots of errors. Now the only thing on our mind is t bring something home with us.”
Those were the words of the head coach, Eric Chelle in the press conference. He wants to finish with a win. Ideally, the only thing to do is just that. But with the way the team played in the last two games, there is no assurance that they can get the win on the night against Congo.
Congo must win the game to stand a chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals and hope Sudan and Senegal knock each other out.
Additionally, Chelle says his players must respond to the game mentally and insist that he wants to every game he plays, irrespective of the formation he decides.
“My players need to show they are ready mentally for the game. They must respond with something to bring home. We made too many errors.
“I decide how we play not me personally but after the analysis, what we we see and how the players react. All the games I play, I want to win.
The Super Eagles gaffer has been playing the 4-4-2 diamond formation since he was appointed and there had been a lot of questions from football fans in the country if the formation suits the Super Eagles players.
In my opinion, the formation, I feel, has been the undoing of the team in this CHAN 2024 tournament.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will face Congo on Tuesday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar Es Salaam, at 6 pm Nigeria time. It is a make or mar game for the team, and it will be a big task to bring something home.
