Every word said by Eric Chelle on African and home-based players, Jamaica, second half lapse & more

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle attended a post-match press conference after his side qualified for the final of the 2025 Unity Cup following a 2-1 win over fierce rivals Ghana at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Super Eagles advanced to the final against Jamaica courtesy of Cyriel Dessers' strike and Razak Simpson's own goal in the first half, before Christopher Bonsu Baah halved the deficit in the 70th minute.

At the press conference on Wednesday evening, Chelle spoke about African players, the upcoming Unity Cup final against Jamaica, losing intensity in the second half of the win against Ghana and working with home-based players.

Against the Black Stars, the Malian football tactician handed debuts to Papa Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes), Alimi Sikiru (Remo Stars), Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers), Chinemerem Ugwueze (Enugu Rangers) and Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague).

Below, allnigeriasoccer.com has compiled the full word-for-word account of Eric Chelle's remarks at the post-match press conference.

How important are tournaments like this?

I think it is very good for Africa to make a tournament like this because we need to show to the world how the football is in Africa. We have a lot of great players in Africa, in Nigeria, in Ghana, everywhere in Africa, so we can show to the world the reality. You know in the European Leagues, there are African players. And clubs want our players because we are very good. The reality is because we are in Africa, they don't spend a lot of money. I'm so happy for my players, for the other African players, it was a great game in a great stadium and for the people in the stadium, they had a great time.

Are you looking forward to the final against the Jamaican team?

Just played one game, we will try to prepare for the second game, but we are in the final, we want to win. But the reality is Jamaica is a great team, with a great staff and players. It will be a great game again, so we focus on two or three training sessions and we will see after.

Just like the game against Zimbabwe in Uyo, we lost intensity in the second half. Is this something that gives you concern?

My philospohy is I want to make high pressure on the pitch but the sytem is very difficult for the players. My dream is I want my players to make high pressure in ninety minutes but I think it is impossible. We need to work and improve but like I said a few minutes ago, the reality since I'm coach of this team, I work maybe seven or eight training sessions. We played three games - two wins and one draw - so we need to improve, we need to work. The players need to know what I want and I think we made a great first half and in the second half we were tired. I am so proud of my guys because they fought. It was difficult but I think they deserve this victory,

Coach, Victor Modo, Modzero Sport, this is the first time you have worked with many home-based players in the main team. You extended invites to a lot of them. Have you been impressed with the quality they brought to training and those you gave opportunities to play today, what do you think?

Like I said, these players have some quality and my job is to analyze. My job is to make some choices. If I am wrong, I am guilty but I want to give chances to these guys because I need to put in my team some players who can add something. We need to win and it's important for me. Maybe I will find some guy who can score in the last minute against Rwanda or against South Africa, or against Zimbabwe, or against Lesotho. My job is to work and try to do the best for this team, for Nigerians, for the local players and for the other players. So, we work. I am happy to be here with my players and we are focused on the next game in September.

Your next game is against The Reggae Boyz of Jamaica, we saw them yesterday and they could run, they had energy. They could even play more than ninety minutes. You just have two days, what's going to happen between now and Saturday?

You will see on Saturday

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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