Pre-match presser: What Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle said before CHAN match v Red Devils

Nigeria’s Super Eagles B are gearing up for their final Group D match of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) against Congo’s Red Devils on Tuesday, August 19, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

The Eric Chelle-led side, yet to secure a point or even score a goal in the tournament, suffered a 1-0 defeat to defending champions Senegal in their opener before a 4-0 loss to Sudan confirmed their early elimination.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Chelle admitted the disappointment of the campaign but urged his players to show pride in their final outing.

"For this game tomorrow, of course there will be some changes because we lost two game and need to change something," Chelle told reporters.  

"So the reality we lost the these two games and really lost this tournament. The first response is our is us because we gave we gave five goals during this tournament. 

"This is the tail we gave because we did lot of mistake. So it's difficult for us mentally because the reality the the the tournament is done for us. 

"So this is why we talk about our owner. We need to come back in Nigeria with something and we will have some wicket tomorrow."

The coach stressed the importance of mentality going into the tie. 

"Tomorrow is a game that we that we can try to to forget our mistakes and I'm waiting. I'm waiting mentally my player.

"I'm waiting how they will start this game and how they will finish this game. I'm waiting lot of lot of think about this player.

"Once again in pregame it was difficult for for this player but  when you are a professional player you need to stay focused. 

"You need to want to win. You need you need to have every time a great state of mind. And now this is the time. 

"This is the time for this guy. We need to they need to show their quality and know the bad things the the the the weaknesses and now during during two weeks during two game we see lot of weaknesses.

"So they need to show and we need to show our qualities."

With only pride left to play for, Chelle has challenged his men to deliver a spirited performance that could at least see them end their CHAN 2024 journey on a respectable note.

Wale Adejeumo

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