Super Eagles coach Chelle apologizes for missing World Cup, AFCON 2025 title

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle expressed regret on May 31, 2026, that Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—co‑hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA—and did not win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team finished third in Morocco. Speaking after a 3‑0 Unity Cup victory over Jamaica at London’s Valley stadium on Saturday night, Chelle apologized to fans, thanked them for their support, and pledged to give everything to the national team moving forward. The World Cup qualification loss came via a 4‑3 penalty shoot‑out defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African playoffs.

While the Unity Cup win offers a morale boost, the missed World Cup and AFCON title raise questions about the team’s preparation and strategy ahead of future qualifiers and continental competitions. Chelle’s acknowledgment of responsibility may affect fan expectations and the Nigerian Football Federation’s evaluation of his tenure.

Given these results, will you continue to back the Super Eagles under Chelle’s leadership, or do you believe a change in coaching is needed to restore Nigeria’s fortunes on the global stage?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/31/super-eagles-chelle-speaks-on-world-cup-afcon-2025-disappointments/