Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has played down growing expectations around the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations campaign, Soccernet.ng reports.
The former Mali national team coach insists the Super Eagles must stay focused on the immediate task ahead before daring to dream of continental glory.
The three-time champions meet Algeria in Saturday’s quarter-final at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, with Nigeria widely tipped as one of the tournament favourites after a commanding run through the competition.
The Super Eagles have scored 12 goals and conceded just four so far.
But when asked whether Nigeria can go all the way and lift the trophy in Morocco, Chelle refused to be drawn into long-term predictions.
“I prefer to stay focused now on Marrakech and there is a game to play and after the game we can think about our accommodation, but now we go to Marrakech and I hope, if God is with me, we will travel for another town,” Chelle said as per Yahoo Sports.
“But now we go to the Marrakech and the story starts in the Marrakech, so we have to stay focused on Marrakech, training sessions, and the next game.”
Nigeria, champions in 1980, 1994 and 2013, are still chasing their first AFCON title in more than a decade, following a runner-up finish in Côte d’Ivoire two years ago.
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Nigeria vs Algeria: A heavyweight quarter-final with history
Saturday’s clash pits two of Africa’s traditional heavyweights against each other in a 45,000-capacity stadium, in what is the third quarter-final of the 35th edition of the tournament.
Between them, Nigeria and Algeria have won five AFCON titles, and both arrive in Marrakech after being forced to relocate from their previous tournament bases: the Eagles from Fès, and the Fennecs from Rabat.
Nigeria have looked more ruthless in front of goal, scoring 12 times in four matches. Algeria have struck eight, including emphatic group-stage wins over Sudan and Equatorial Guinea, and needed a dramatic added-time goal to eliminate DR Congo.
At the heart of Nigeria’s charge are Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, the twin attacking pillars of Chelle’s side. Both players were instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the final two years ago and have again delivered, with three goals each in this tournament. Lookman has also provided four assists.
They are joined by Akor Adams, whose first AFCON goal against Mozambique and the steady recovery of his mother have given him renewed emotional and competitive drive.
Yet Algeria are far from short of star quality.
Baghdad Bounedjah, scorer of the winning goal in the 2019 AFCON final, remains one of the most feared forwards on the continent. Captain Riyad Mahrez continues to embody the country’s tradition of attacking brilliance once defined by Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi.
In midfield, Ismael Bennacer offers control and craft, while Ramy Bensebaini has already shown he can hurt Nigeria, scoring the winner in a friendly in Austria in 2020. Add the threats of Adil Boulbina, Ibrahim Maza, Hicham Boudaoui and Anis Hadj-Moussa, and Algeria’s depth becomes clear.
Still, Nigeria have played this tournament with a sense of purpose and collective belief. Captain Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi have set the tempo, while the team’s balance between grit and flair has been striking.
Osimhen’s brace against Mozambique moved him to within three goals of Nigeria’s all-time record of 37 international goals. Lookman, meanwhile, now has six AFCON goals across tournaments and will be eager to keep adding to that tally.
Paul Onuachu, whose group-stage strike against Uganda was Nigeria’s 150th AFCON goal, could also have a role to play from the bench.
The winner of the clash between Nigeria and Algeria will face either Cameroon or hosts Morocco in the semi-finals.
