Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to retain head coach Eric Chelle, insisting that continuity is vital for the long-term progress of the national team, despite their failure to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s third-place playoff, Ndidi warned against making hasty decisions in the aftermath of disappointment, stressing that changing the coaching setup now could disrupt the team’s growth. According to the Besiktas midfielder, the Super Eagles are still building and have several major competitions ahead that require stability rather than sudden changes.
“For continuity, I feel like they should keep the coach because he is a wonderful manager,” Ndidi said. “The only thing we need in this team is continuity. We should not change things now because we did not make it to the final. We should remain focused because there are so many competitions ahead.”
Ndidi, who captained the Super Eagles during the tournament, also reflected on the personal significance of wearing the armband. He described the role as a huge honour and praised the collective effort of the squad and technical crew throughout the competition.
“It’s amazing. Being the captain is a great privilege for me, with the help of the coach, players and other leaders of the team,” he said.
Looking back on Nigeria’s AFCON campaign, the midfielder expressed pride in the team’s performances, highlighting their resilience and unity in difficult moments. He maintained that the players gave their all and showed quality against top opposition.
“When we talk about the experience as the captain, for the future I will say this team I am very proud of,” Ndidi added. “They have done great things in this tournament and it’s been amazing.”
Ndidi concluded by calling for patience and continued support from fans and football authorities, urging everyone to focus on the positives rather than the disappointment of missing the final. “Let us focus on the team. I am proud of this set of players,” he said.
The Super Eagles, who were eliminated by hosts Morocco after a tense penalty shootout, will face Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday as they look to finish the tournament on a positive note.
Meanwhile, Chelle has admitted he remains uncertain about his future with the team but confirmed he is fully focused on preparing the players for the playoff match and conducting a full review of the tournament.
