2025 AFCON: ‘I could have stopped coaching’ – Éric Chelle on AFCON bronze

Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle has revealed that defeat to Egypt in the third-place match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations would have pushed him to step away from coaching, admitting the emotional weight of the contest was heavier than anything he had faced before.

The Super Eagles secured the bronze medal on Saturday night in Casablanca, beating Egypt 4–2 on penalties after a tense goalless draw at the end of regulation time.

The result ensured Nigeria finished the tournament on the podium as AFCON 2025 in Morocco heads towards its final, with hosts Morocco set to face Senegal.

Speaking in comments reported by Moroccan outlet Al-Botola, Éric Chelle offered a rare glimpse into the personal stakes attached to the match.

“Perhaps it would have been difficult for me to continue as a coach if the Nigerian national team had not achieved third place,” he said.

The Franco-Malagasy coach reflected on how the fine margins of tournament football have shaped his career, drawing comparisons with previous Africa Cup of Nations experiences.

“I played my first Africa Cup of Nations with the Malian national team, and we were the best team playing football, then we were eliminated in the quarter-finals,” he explained. “Now in this edition, we were the best team in terms of play and philosophy, then we failed.”

Éric Chelle went further, acknowledging that missing out on the bronze medal would have forced him to reconsider his future in the game.

“Yes, I could have stopped coaching,” he admitted. “What would I have done if I had stopped? Perhaps I would have worked in training, or as a technical director with a certain national team.”

Despite falling short of the final, the coach said finishing third brought a sense of relief and quiet pride, especially given the promises he had made before the tournament.

“I am happy. I promised my father and mother that I would return with the African Cup title, but I apologize to them,” he said. “I came in third place, and that is good for me.”

Nigeria’s route to bronze was built on resilience and defensive discipline, with the Super Eagles not conceding a goal in open play during the knockout stages.

Against Egypt, both sides cancelled each other out over 90 minutes before Nigeria held their nerve in the shootout to seal victory.

For Éric Chelle, the medal was more than just a place on the podium. It reaffirmed Nigeria’s standing among Africa’s elite and, by his own admission, gave him renewed motivation to continue a coaching journey that came close to ending on the AFCON stage.

As the tournament draws to a close, his candid reflections highlight the intense psychological pressure faced by national team coaches, where a single match can reshape both careers and personal resolve.