Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has praised his players for showing strong character in their 2-1 victory over Madagascar in the opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Nigeria came from behind to defeat the Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday night.
Madagascar stunned the home crowd in the 16th minute when Kari Eshan rose to head home a cross from the left.
George Ilenikhena, making his first appearance for the Super Eagles, restored parity in first-half stoppage time after receiving a superb pass from Alex Iwobi.
Moses Usor then completed Nigeria’s comeback in the 65th minute, brilliantly dribbling past two defenders before firing the ball into the net.
Chelle Praises Players’ Mentality
Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, Chelle praised his players for maintaining a positive mentality despite falling behind and missing several chances.
“We made a mistake and conceded. After that, we had chances to score, but we were too anxious and couldn’t convert them,” Chelle said during his post-match interaction with the media.
“But in the end, we were able to come back and win the game. That was very important.
“The state of mind was good. They gave everything for the jersey and for the country. I was very happy because Victor was here too.
“I was happy because it means this group is trying to go forward and do something great.”
Madagascar’s Defensive Approach Caused Problems
Chelle also admitted that Madagascar’s defensive approach made life difficult for the Super Eagles, particularly after they adopted a low block.
“Stanley Nwabali did well by making a good save in the one-on-one situation. It was an important save at that point in the game,” Chelle said.
Read Also:2027 AFCONQ: I Want My Players To Be Aggressive, Play With Intensity Against Madagascar — Chelle
“Madagascar parked the box, which made things difficult for us. In the second half, we could have scored more goals.
“It could have been five or six goals in our favour. We started with the diamond, but we changed our shape after the break because of the low block.
“Like I said, it was not bad. Overall, I’m happy with the outcome of the game and the desire shown by the players.”
Ilenikhena, Usor Impress On Debut
Debutants George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor made an immediate impact, helping Nigeria secure a difficult victory.
Chelle praised the more experienced players for helping the newcomers settle into the squad.
“I think the old players deserve commendation for helping the new players feel comfortable,” he added.
“They always take the new players like younger brothers, which is good for the team. My job is to discover new players and bring them in. They have done well by helping them settle down properly.”
Guinea-Bissau Next For Super Eagles
The Super Eagles will now turn their attention to their next qualifying fixture against Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday.
The Djurtus also began their campaign with a victory, defeating Tanzania 2-0 on Friday.
Chelle expects another challenging encounter but remained tight-lipped about his tactical plans for the match.
“The focus is now on the next game against Guinea-Bissau. They have their strengths and weaknesses as well,” Chelle stated.
“I won’t disclose how we are going to approach the game, whether it will be the formation we used against Madagascar or whether it will be different tactics.”
By Adeboye Amosu
