Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has vowed that his team will deliver “the best game of their lives” when they face Sudan in a crucial group-stage match at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Tuesday.
The Franco-Malian tactician, whose side fell 1-0 to defending champions Senegal in their opening fixture last Tuesday, is keen to see a strong response from his players when they step out at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
“We are focused on our next game. This match against Sudan is a big one for us,” Chelle told journalists during Monday’s pre-match press conference. “We have our final training today to be ready for tomorrow. I just want to win. The game will have a lot of intensity. When the game is on, I don’t think about cameras or the media—it’s just me doing my job.”
The coach stressed the team’s unity and determination despite the pressure: “We are ambitious, and we just want to win. What happened before doesn’t matter; I’m only thinking about this game and correcting our mistakes. If we win tomorrow, our ambitions will grow even bigger. We’ve worked very hard all week, and tomorrow we will play the best game of our lives.”
Chelle also confirmed a squad change due to injury, with first-choice goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. U20 goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt has been drafted in as cover. “Taiwo Abdulrafiu is fine, but unfortunately, Ani is injured. We trust Ebenezer to step up,” he said.
Team captain Junior Nduka shared his belief that the Super Eagles can bounce back from recent setbacks. “We proved a point in the Unity Cup after the Zimbabwe result in the World Cup qualifier. We can make things right again against Sudan,” Nduka stated.
Nigeria and Sudan will face off in what will be a repeat of the CHAN 2018 semifinal. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. Nigerian time, with both teams looking to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
