Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has defended his decision to restrict media access to the team ahead of their crucial AFCON 2025 Round of 16 clash against Mozambique, Soccernet.ng reports.
On Friday and Saturday, a notable uproar erupted across sections of the Nigerian media following Chelle's decision to bar journalists and content creators from accessing Super Eagles players during training sessions.
This move was a significant departure from the norm, as media personnel are usually granted a few minutes with the players to conduct interviews and capture the atmosphere within the camp.
Chelle’s decision drew significant backlash from the press, particularly given the financial sacrifices and burden of traveling to Morocco to cover the tournament.
The Franco-Malian tactician addressed the controversy on Sunday during the pre-match press conference for Nigeria’s game against Mozambique.
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Chelle stated that he made the decision to ensure his team remains fully focused on the task ahead, noting that the AFCON has now reached the high-stakes knockout rounds.
“My job is not to coach the national team for the media,” Chelle said, as observed by Soccernet.ng.
“But when you came to this tournament, the rule was one session for the journalists. But because I respect the press, I spoke with my media officer before the AFCON, and we agreed to give the Nigerian journalists a second training session per week.
“But now, we are not on holidays, I have to take care of my players, I have to work. This is not targeted against you, I want my team to stay focused.
“We have a goal and an objective. But if I open the doors of the training session to you, we can't do that. Because if we lose, you will say ‘Eric is crazy, he opens the door everytime'.
“We want everybody to stay calm, this is not against you, this is to protect my players.
“If you want to come to the hotel for content around the team, I have no problem with that. But you're not content with that. I prefer that everybody does his job, and after that, I will be judged.”
From his comments, it is unlikely that Chelle will change his stance while the team is still in the competition.
Super Eagles' Clash Against Mozambique: A Do-or-Die Affair
Despite the ongoing drama between Eric Chelle and the Nigerian media, it is vital not to lose sight of the ultimate prize: the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations trophy.
Nigeria face Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the Complexe Sportif De Fes on Monday. Unlike the Mambas, this is familiar territory for the Super Eagles, as they played and won all three of their Group C matches on this very pitch.
On paper, the Mambas are the underdogs. However, the Super Eagles' past performances against teams of this stature have not always been convincing enough to assure fans of an easy victory against such opposition.
Failure will not be tolerated — at least, not against Mozambique. Nigeria must secure a convincing win to send a clear statement of intent to the rest of the continent.
Ultimately, if Chelle does not lead this team to at least the AFCON final, his tenure will be deemed a failure.
