Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has put his own name on the line before Friday's AFCON 2027 qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo, telling reporters that a win would be his credit and a defeat his responsibility.
Chelle spoke at the pre-match press conference in Uyo on Thursday, a day before the Group L meeting at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Kick-off is at 17:00 WAT.
Nigeria go into the game second in the group on three points, behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, after a 2-1 home win over Madagascar and a 3-0 defeat in Bissau. Tanzania have already qualified for the finals as co-hosts with Kenya and Uganda, which is why the real race for Nigeria is with Guinea-Bissau.
Chelle: ‘The state of mind of the players is the most important thing'
The Super Eagles coach did not hide behind his squad. He said he knew the group and the players he had picked, and that the outcome would sit with him either way.
I know the group and the players I selected. If we win, I take the credit, and if we lose, I take responsibility.
He made the comments as reported by P.M. News, and he added that mood would matter as much as tactics.
The attitude and enthusiasm are very important. The state of mind of the players is the most important thing in a game.
Chelle also said the team had a clear plan, called Tanzania a good test and argued that visiting sides should feel in Uyo the kind of pressure Nigeria felt in Bissau. Speaking to Premium Times, he described the mood in camp as high, with everyone focused on winning both matches.
Gamondi promises Tanzania will not sit back
Tanzania coach Miguel Ángel Gamondi accepted Nigeria's attacking strength but said his side would not simply defend. In comments reported by P.M. News, he said the Taifa Stars would also attack, and warned that any error in a match like this would be punished.
Chelle will be without Victor Osimhen, who is out injured, while goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was not included in the 24-man squad. The full group was in camp by Wednesday after flight delays held up seven players, as covered in our report on Uyo's first session.
Analysis: Chelle has made Uyo a referendum on himself
Coaches often share out the credit and keep the blame close. Chelle has done both in one sentence, and the timing matters. After the 3-0 defeat in Bissau, Nigeria are three points behind Guinea-Bissau, and with Tanzania already through as co-hosts, that is the race that decides the group for the Super Eagles.
That makes this a home game Nigeria cannot treat as routine. Tanzania have nothing to lose in the table, and Gamondi's promise to attack could open the game up, which could suit Nigeria's forwards, provided the defence that conceded three in Bissau holds firm.
The bigger point is goal difference. If Guinea-Bissau keep winning, the group could come down to margins, so a narrow win in Uyo may not be enough on its own. By taking ownership so publicly, Chelle has raised the bar for himself: anything less than a convincing night would be judged against his own words.
The return leg follows on Tuesday 17 November at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, so whatever happens in Uyo, Chelle gets only four days to build on it or put it right.
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