Super Eagles B head coach Eric Chelle has admitted that Senegal deserved their win over Nigeria in Tuesday’s CHAN 2025 Group D opener in Zanzibar, conceding that his side only showed intent for about 20 minutes in the second half, Footynaija.com reports.
Chelle’s post-match reaction came after Nigeria’s home-based team suffered a 1–0 defeat at the hands of defending champions Senegal, who snatched victory through Christian Gomis’ 75th-minute strike.
The result leaves Nigeria bottom of the group and under pressure ahead of their second group fixture against Sudan.
“Senegal deserve this victory because we only played 20 minutes in the second half,” Chelle told reporters in a post-match report via PanAfricaFooty on X.
“We need to change our state of mind and be more aggressive.”
The French-Malian tactician, appointed earlier this year, made no excuses for the performance and openly criticised his team’s lack of urgency, especially after going behind.
It was Senegal’s sixth 1–0 win in CHAN history and extended their unbeaten run against West African opposition in the competition. With Congo and Sudan drawing 1–1 in the other Group D tie, the pressure is now on Chelle’s men to respond.
Nigeria’s next fixture against Sudan on August 12 will be a must-win if they are to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
The result also continues a frustrating trend for Nigeria at CHAN level. Since reaching the final in 2018, the Super Eagles B have failed to replicate that form, missing the last two editions and now starting this one on the back foot.
Still, Chelle believes there is time to correct the situation.
We need to “take each game as it comes,” he stressed, in another report by CAF Online.