Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, says his team will step onto the pitch with pride as their main motivation when they face Congo in their final group match at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Tanzania.

The Super Eagles’ campaign has already ended in disappointment after back-to-back defeats condemned them to an early exit. They opened with a narrow 1-0 loss to Senegal before suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Sudan in their second outing.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Chelle admitted his side had been far from their best but stressed that the players still have something to fight for.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the previous games, and the tournament is done, but we need to go back with something,” the Malian tactician said. “It’s important that we show character and finish the competition in a way that reflects who we are.”

The match against Congo is scheduled for Tuesday evening at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, with kick-off set for 6pm Nigerian time. Though the fixture carries no weight in terms of qualification, Chelle insists it is a chance for his team to restore some dignity and end on a positive note.

The CHAN tournament, reserved for players who feature in their domestic leagues, has once again exposed Nigeria’s struggles in harnessing local talent for international competition.

© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]