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As Tanzania’s Coach Issues Stern Warning to Three-Time AFCON Winners
- Safiu Kehinde
Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has charged the Nigerian national team to focus on themselves and dismiss criticism ahead of their 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening match against Tanzania in Morocco.
Speaking during an official Press Conference on Monday ahead of the showdown against Tanzania tomorrow, Chelle described the Super Eagles squad as their own first opponents, stressing on their need to remain focus amid criticism over their World Cup qualification miss.
The Super Eagles coach, who admitted to the pain of losing out on a spot at the 2026 World Cup, urged the team to shun outside noise and make up for their loss in AFCON.
“We are our first opponent. We need to focus on ourselves and take out outside noise.
“Of course, the World Cup miss is painful.” Chelle said.
However, Tanzania had also issued stern warning to Nigeria as they expressed readiness to face-off the three-time AFCON winner.
While acknowledging the depth of quality of the Super Eagles squad, Tanzania’s coach, Miguel Gamondi, charged his players to be flawless with their attack, stressing that they are not just going to sit back and defend.
Gamondi described the Super Eagles as one of Africa’s most dangerous attacking teams, pointing to the quality and experience within their squad.
“You don’t need to introduce the attacking force of Nigeria. When you see the quality of their players, you need to give more than 100 per cent,
“The smallest mistake against this kind of team can punish you.
“Our mentality is not only to defend. We want to recover the ball and try to attack as well. We are coming here to compete with our guts.” He said.
The Argentine maintained that his side will not approach the match with fear.
He highlighted organisation, structure and tactical discipline as the pillars of the Taifa Stars’ strategy.
“The key for us is the shape, the tactical discipline, the structure and the organisation,” Gamondi stated. “In games like this, there is no room for mistakes.” Gamondi added.