Eric Chelle pinpoints Nigeria shortcomings against Morocco | OneFootball

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Chelle on what cost Nigeria a spot in the AFCON final

Photo: Eric Chelle

Nigeria national team head coach Eric Chelle has highlighted the main factors that saw his team exit the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the semi-final against Morocco.

The Super Eagles were sent packing after the two teams played to a goalless draw for 120 minutes, and had to be separated by a penalty shootout, which was won 4-2 by the host nation.

Reflecting on the match, the French-Malian tactician attributed his troops' downfall to lack of cohesion, fatigue and succumbing to pressure from the passionate Moroccan crowd.

“It's difficult to play these big games because you're in Morocco, you play against a team but you play against the crowd and you are under pressure more. We missed some movements in that game tactically,” Chelle said.

"It was not the last game, there's another game, so we lost many long balls but like I said in the last [pre-match] press conference, I said we are tired, we will play this game with our state of mind, so the players did well, they fought for every ball.

Nigeria were one of the standout teams at the continental showpiece, scoring a staggering 14 goals, while conceding four, and Chelle feels hard done by to bow out without a defeat in regulation time.

“So, the reality, I'm proud of my players. It's very hard for me and the players because the reality is we go out of this AFCON without any defeat during 90 minutes,” he added.

Chelle's men will lock horns with record seven-time African champions Egypt for a podium finish, as the winner walks away with a Bronze medal on Saturday, 17 January.