As Nigeria prepares to face Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, head coach Eric Chelle and team captain Wilfred Ndidi addressed the media, highlighting their strategies and mindset for the upcoming match.
Coach Chelle acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “My dream is to win with 4 or 5 goals and have 80% possession, that is the perfection I dream of. But this is the AFCON. Mozambique is a great team, but they have a lot of things to improve on, just like us, and that’s why we work hard during our training.”
Ndidi emphasized the team’s awareness of the expectations placed upon them, noting, “We understand the expectations that Nigerians have of us, knowing what the legends you have mentioned have done. We just have to win.”
He also addressed the importance of focusing on the present, saying, “This is a new team, and most of the players here watched it on TV. That moment is just a reminder and has nothing to do with us. We just want to try our best to deliver and remain focused on the present and ourselves.”
The Super Eagles have conducted thorough analyses of Mozambique’s gameplay, recognizing their aggression and team cohesion. Ndidi remarked, “They are a very good team, they want to play, they are very aggressive, they play like a team. We’ve seen the team, we’ve watched their group stage games, we know they fight. But the main focus is about us, how we approach the game, how we want it.”
With both teams aiming for a spot in the quarterfinals, the match promises to be a compelling encounter, reflecting the competitive spirit of the tournament.
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