Football: Can Nigeria salvage pride in final CHAN clash against Congo?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Super Eagles aiming to avoid group-stage whitewash
The 2024 African Nations Championship has been an absolute nightmare for Nigeria. They have lost both games so far and are set to exit the tournament on Tuesday evening after their final group-stage match against Congo.
The home-based Super Eagles kicked off the competition with a 1-0 loss to defending champions Senegal, but that was followed by arguably the biggest upset of CHAN so far - a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Sudan.
Given that Eric Chelle’s side were drawn into Group D - which is the only one that features four teams - they are now out of knockout qualification contention as they have yet to earn a single point in the competition, while Sudan and Senegal are currently on four points apiece with one game to go.
With CHAN being made up solely of players who ply their trades domestically, the Super Eagles' premature elimination from the tournament has sparked debate over the weaknesses of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) and its governing structures. Nigerian football analyst, Monday Izegagbe said:
“This performance is deeply discouraging. It shows our league is stagnant and not producing competitive talent. The NFF must act urgently before things worsen. The league must be run like a business, prioritising transparency and accountability. Clubs should attract sponsorships, generate revenue and reinvest in talent and facilities.”
Izegagbe also suggested that the issues the nation faces are systemic and span several facets, including but not restricted to selection processes, coaching methods, and inadequate training facilities, which have a direct impact on player preparation.
Pressure mounting on Chelle to produce results
Nigeria’s early elimination from the 2024 CHAN comes at a time when the nation’s senior Super Eagles team have been struggling to produce positive results, currently in fourth place in their CAF World Cup qualifier group, six points behind leaders South Africa.
With the defeats to Senegal and Sudan, the Super Eagles are now winless in their last seven matches across all competitions, while their only victory in their last nine games came over Ghana at the Unity Cup in England back in May.
As a result, fans and some football pundits have begun to question whether head coach Eric Chelle is the right man to steer the nation back to prominence, given his rigid tactical philosophy and sometimes controversial team selections.
There have also been calls for Chelle’s assistant and Remo Stars boss Daniel Ogunmodede to be handed the national team head coach role. For now, though, Chelle can only focus on the side’s next assignment, which comes in the form of Congo before the World Cup qualifiers resume next month.
