Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has hinted at a possible tactical reshuffle ahead of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash against Morocco scheduled for Wednesday.
Chelle made the disclosure on Tuesday, January 13, while speaking to journalists, admitting that fatigue has begun to set in among some of his players following Nigeria’s intense run to the last four of the tournament.
the Malian tactician has largely relied on a 4-4-2 diamond formation, with Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams leading the attack.
The system has yielded impressive results for the Super Eagles, who have scored 14 goals in five matches and created more chances than any other team in the competition so far.
Nigeria’s high-tempo, energetic and aggressive style has overwhelmed several opponents, including Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique and Algeria, as the Eagles powered their way into the semi-finals.
Despite the success of the approach, Chelle admitted that the physical demands of the system may necessitate a change against a technically gifted Moroccan side.
“I feel my squad is tired, so I may have to change my approach,” Chelle said.
The Super Eagles coach suggested that Nigeria could adopt a more conservative strategy, allowing Morocco to dominate possession while his team stays compact.
According to Chelle, Morocco has shown vulnerabilities when faced with teams that defend deep and deny them space.
“We might let Morocco have the ball and wait for them. We’ve seen they struggle when they come against a low block. I think we’ll start like that,” he explained.
Chelle added that the plan would be to absorb pressure early in the game before imposing Nigeria’s style later on.
“We’ll try to hold on in the first half… We’ll hold on in the first half and try to play our game in the second half,” he said.
The tactical switch, if implemented, would mark a significant departure from Nigeria’s attacking approach at the tournament, as the Super Eagles seek a place in the AFCON final.
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