Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has warned Egypt to expect a fierce and highly motivated Super Eagles when both teams meet in the third-place playoff at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
The three-time African champions battle the Pharaohs in Casablanca on Wednesday as the West Africans look to salvage pride after their agonising semi-final exit.
The Super Eagles, who had been widely tipped as favourites to lift the trophy, saw their title hopes end in heartbreak after losing on penalties to Morocco, while Egypt were edged out 1-0 by Senegal in the other semi-final. With both sides still nursing fresh disappointment, Saturday’s playoff has taken on the feel of a test of character as much as a contest for the bronze medal.
Nigeria arrive at the match with mixed emotions. Before the defeat to Morocco, Eric Chelle’s men had been the tournament’s most convincing team, winning all five of their previous matches and scoring a competition-high 14 goals. Their run had rekindled belief back home after the bitter failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and the pain of losing the final of the 2023 AFCON to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.
Chelle admitted the semi-final was a sobering experience but insisted his players are determined to respond in the right way.
“Tomorrow we have the last game we have to do a good game, we have to look for winning because we did a great tournament so we have to go back with the third place,” Chelle said at the pre-match press conference monitored by Soccernet.ng.
“I try to bring my philosophy to this team. It was going well until the semi final, then in semi we missed a lot of things in that match, technically, tactically physically.
“It is not easy against a tough team (Morocco). But we have a match to play against Egypt. We will do evertything to win this match against Egypt.”
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AFCON 2025: Chelle's Super Eagles aim for one last target
While the AFCON trophy had been Nigeria’s primary ambition, especially after a difficult couple of years on the international stage, Chelle accepts that focus must now shift to finishing the tournament on a positive note.
For the Malian tactician, the bronze medal represents both a reward for the team’s overall performance and a foundation to build on.
“Match for third place is important for me,” Chelle added.
“We have done a lot of good things in this tournament, this third place could recompense the work that was done.
“Personally, that (winning bronze) will be a positive. Egypt is a team who have big qualities, team spirit, solidarity, big individuals capable of making the difference, medium block, conditions, it will be a beautiful match to play.”
Egypt, seven-time African champions, represent familiar and formidable opposition.
This will be the 20th meeting between the two nations, with Nigeria holding the historical edge, boasting nine wins to Egypt’s five.
However, the North Africans claimed the most recent encounter, winning 2-1 in Cairo on the eve of the tournament, a result that will serve as extra motivation for the Super Eagles.
