Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has made it clear that his primary focus is on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, rather than the Africa Cup of Nations in December.
Chelle shared his remarks following the draw for the 2025 AFCON, held on Monday in Rabat, Morocco, where the Super Eagles were drawn into Group C alongside Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia.
While acknowledging the significance of the AFCON tournament, the former Mali manager emphasised the importance of taking it one step at a time to ensure his team is fully prepared for the immediate challenge.
Chelle highlights World Cup qualifiers as Super Eagles immediate priority
In an interview with the Super Eagles media, Eric Chelle underlined the importance of prioritising the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March before shifting attention to the 2025 AFCON.
“There is no little team in AFCON, you need to be focused,” he said.
“I said a few minutes later, I'm focused on my players, the team, and March. We need to be focused on the World Cup qualifiers and after that, in October, we really can think about the AFCON. Now, we need to win two games in March.
“No, I'm focused on the World Cup qualifiers. This is a draw, there are four teams in each group, and anyone in the AFCON can win the tournament. For now, let's focus on March, please.”
The Super Eagles, under Chelle's guidance, are set to face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March in their crucial World Cup qualifying matches.
The three-time African champions currently occupy fifth place in their six-team group, having accumulated just three points from their first four games. The group also features strong contenders such as Benin, South Africa, and Lesotho.
