Eric Chelle uncertain over Nigeria future after AFCON exit | OneFootball

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Chelle not sure about his future with Nigeria

Photo: Eric Chelle

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle is uncertain about his future with the national team following their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final exit to Morocco on Wednesday.

The two teams were deadlocked for 120 minutes, and had to be separated through a penalty shootout, which the host nation won 4-2.

As a result, the French-Malian tactician's future with the Super Eagles hangs in the balance, prompting a cagey response when pressed on whether he will continue spearheading the team.

“My future? Now I don't know [but] I know something - I'm the coach of Nigeria and maybe in few days my president will tell me it's finished for you or maybe you have to continue, so I don't know,” said Chelle.

"Now, I try to analyse this game, this AFCON, we have a last game against Egypt. I'm proud of my players but I'm disappointed for them because the reality is maybe we were the best team in this AFCON, so we have to go out with pride.

"So, the question of my situation, no, the AFCON is not finished, so we stay focused on the third-place game and we have to win that game.

Though uncertain about his future with the three-time African champions, Chelle expressed affection for Nigeria and confirmed crunch talks with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“Like I said during the [pre-match] press conference, I'm a fan of the Super Eagles team during many years, so this job is very important to me. But I'm not the boss, I just try to do my job and the tournament is not finished,” he added.

"We have a last game and then after, normally I will have some meetings with the NFF and we will decide something. But like I said, I'm the coach of Nigeria and if nobody tells me you have to stop, I'm here.

"So, after the AFCON we will talk for sure with lots of people and we will take a decision together, but now the AFCON is not finished.