Eric Chelle: Super Eagles coach envisages squad rotation ahead of Uganda clash

Nigeria’s senior men’s national team will return to training in Fez on Monday as preparations intensify for their final Group match against Uganda and the upcoming Round of 16 fixture at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria sealed qualification for the knockout stage with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Tunisia on Saturday, showcasing attacking quality and resilience.

However, the three-time African champions will still need at least a draw against Uganda to finish top of their group and maintain momentum heading into the business end of the tournament.

According to team officials who spoke with BSN Sports, the Super Eagles are scheduled for a two-hour training session beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Monday.

All players are reported to be fit and available for selection, providing head coach Éric Chelle with a full squad as he fine-tunes tactics and addresses areas exposed in the closing stages against Tunisia.

The training session is expected to focus on correcting defensive lapses, improving game management, and refining overall strategy.

With qualification already secured, Chelle is likely to rotate his squad, resting several key players ahead of the knockout phase.

This approach could see a number of fringe players handed starting opportunities in the final group game, giving them a chance to impress and stake a claim for roles in the Round of 16.

The Uganda match is therefore set to serve both as a tactical rehearsal and an audition platform as Nigeria look to build depth, balance, and sharpness for the decisive stages of the competition.

With confidence growing and qualification assured, the Super Eagles now turn their attention to finishing the group strongly and positioning themselves for a serious push toward a fourth AFCON title.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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