Why Eric Chelle should continue as Super Eagles coach – Ndidi

Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi has urged the Nigeria Football Federation to retain head coach Eric Chelle, stressing that continuity is crucial for the national team’s long-term success despite missing out on the AFCON final.

Speaking ahead of the third-place playoff, Ndidi said changing the coaching setup at this stage would be counterproductive, noting that the team still has many competitions ahead.

“For continuity, I feel like they should keep the coach because he is a wonderful manager. The only thing we need in this team is continuity. We should not change things now because we did not make it to the final. We should remain focused because there are so many competitions ahead,” Ndidi said.

The Besiktas midfielder also described captaining the national team as a great honour, crediting both the coaching crew and his teammates for their collective effort throughout the tournament.

“It’s amazing. Being the captain is a great privilege for me, with the help of the coach, players and other leaders of the team,” he said.

Reflecting on the squad’s overall performance, Ndidi expressed pride in the players and what they achieved during the competition.

“When we talk about the experience as the captain, for the future I will say this team I am very proud of. They have done great things in this tournament and it’s been amazing,” he added.

He concluded by calling for unity and continued support for the players, highlighting their resilience and quality. “Let us focus on the team. I am proud of this set of players,” he said.

The Super Eagles, who lost to hosts Morocco on penalties, will face Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday as they look to end their AFCON campaign on a positive note.

Following the defeat to Morocco, Chelle said he is still unsure about his future as Super Eagles coach, but confirmed he remains focused on preparing the team for the third-place match and reviewing the tournament as a whole.