Sports
Chelle Reveals What Super Eagles Must Do To Revive AFCON Hopes
Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle has outlined what the team needs to do to revive their hopes of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations following their defeat to Guinea-Bissau.
The Nigeria national team suffered a 3-0 loss to the Djurtus on Tuesday evening, a result that strengthened Guinea-Bissau’s position at the top of the group and boosted their chances of securing the only qualification spot for the biennial tournament.
Speaking after the game, Chelle praised Guinea-Bissau’s performance, highlighting their mentality, attitude and physicality as key factors that gave the Djurtus an advantage over the Super Eagles.
“They were more aggressive than us. When you try to play, to cross, or make a cross, you need to have this aggressiveness in your state of mind to make the difference,” Chelle said.
The Franco-Malian tactician also lamented the poor condition of the pitch, noting that it played a role in the outcome of the match.
“I think they were better than us,” he added. “This is not an apology but they know their pitch. They usually play on this pitch but for us this is the first time and the pitch was very bad.”
Chelle revealed that he tried to change the team’s dynamics and approach in the second half, but the Super Eagles struggled to implement the plan due to the weather conditions.
“The weather was very hot too, so Guinea Bissau entered the game more motivated, aggressive, and we never found the solution.
“We tried to go forward to bring something new with the one-on-one on the wide but you see after ten minutes we stopped. I don’t know why.
Despite the setback, Chelle remains confident that the Super Eagles still have a chance of securing qualification, stressing that the team must record victories over Tanzania in both legs to keep their hopes alive.
“To be very objective about this game, this is not the end, we have many games to play,” Chelle revealed.
“We have two games against Tanzania in November, we have to win both games and after that, Guinea Bissau will come down to Uyo, we have to put them in the same condition that we are here.”
“I am very confident about my team, today was not a good day for us. This is the first time that I see my team like that, so we will have to go forward, both games against Tanzania are very important.
“After that there is the last game against Madagascar and then Guinea Bissau, a lot of things can happen.”
While expressing his belief in the team’s chances of securing qualification, Chelle also called on the fans to remain calm and continue supporting the Super Eagles.
“We have to stay focused and calm, we know our strengths and weaknesses and today was a bad day for us but I am still confident about my team and players,” Chelle concluded.
The Super Eagles currently sit second in the group with three points, while Guinea-Bissau lead the standings with six points and a superior goal difference.
The Super Eagles have officially opened their training camp in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.
Head coach Éric Chelle and his team are expected to begin preparations on Tuesday with their first training session at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Chelle announced a 24-man squad on Saturday for the crucial encounters, with all invited players expected to arrive camp on Monday.
Nigeria will welcome Tanzania to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13.
They will travel to Zanzibar for the return fixture at the Amman Stadium on Tuesday, November 17.
The Super Eagles currently occupy second place in Group L and will be targeting maximum points from both matches to strengthen their chances of securing the group’s sole qualification ticket for the 2027 AFCON, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Manchester United manager, Michael Carrick, has insisted that his team can recover from their poor run of results despite dropping into the Premier League relegation zone.
Carrick spoke after United played out a dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Red Devils twice came from two goals behind to rescue a point in an entertaining encounter but remained in the bottom three after the result.
Aston Villa took an early two-goal lead through Alysson and Nicolas Jackson inside the opening five minutes.
However, Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty before Youri Tielemans restored parity for the hosts before the break.
Villa regained the advantage after the restart, with John McGinn and Leon Goretzka scoring to put the visitors 4-2 ahead.
United fought back again, as Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu scored late goals to secure a share of the points.
Despite the comeback, United dropped to 18th position in the Premier League table after 10 matches.
The club is also enduring an eight-match winless run in the league, increasing pressure on Carrick.
Reacting to questions about whether United are now involved in a relegation battle, the manager insisted that the season was still at an early stage.
“We’re in November. I don’t like this situation or the results, but we can definitely do something about it,” Carrick said.
Liverpool erased the bitter taste of successive losses to Arsenal and Fenerbahce with a comfortable victory at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Alexis Mac Allister put Liverpool ahead late in the first half before Wirtz, whose last league goal came against the same opponents in April, doubled the Reds’ advantage nine minutes into the second half.
Alexander Isak netted Liverpool’s third in the 89th minute before Eddie Nketiah scored a stoppage-time penalty for bottom of the table Palace.
Liverpool are up to fourth place after their fourth away league win this season.
It was a much-needed success for Iraola, who had started to hear some awkward questions about Liverpool’s inconsistent run in his first season in charge after arriving from Bournemouth to replace the sacked Arne Slot.
Yeremy Pino went agonisingly close to opening the scoring for Palace in the 18th minute when he curled against the bar.
Palace striker Jorgen Strand Larsen had the ball in the back of Alisson Becker’s net in the 33rd minute.
But his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag and a subsequent VAR check.
Mac Allister made Palace pay for those misses in the 40th minute, nodding home a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick in clinical fashion.
Wirtz increased Liverpool’s advantage in the 54th minute, guiding a low Bradley Barcola cross into the bottom corner.
Palace had a huge chance with just under 15 minutes remaining when Pino was denied by Alisson, who then saved from Jefferson Lerma before Nketiah lashed over.
Sweden striker Isak put the result beyond doubt in the 89th minute with a deflected close-range strike.
Palace earned a penalty after Dario Osorio clashed heads with Milos Kerkez but Nketiah’s goal was no consolation for under-fire Eagles boss Pierre Sage.
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