Nigeria ended their CHAN 2024 campaign on a high with a 2-0 win over Congo in Dar es Salaam, a result that denied their opponents progression but came too late to save the Eagles’ own hopes.
Coach Eric Chelle admitted the exit was painful but praised his young side for showing character in their final outing. “We showed some technical ability and deserved to win. I don’t think my cubs let me down – they played for honour and refused to go home with zero points,” he said, while lamenting costly mistakes and poor preparation earlier in the tournament.
Chelle highlighted that lack of long-term planning left Nigeria at a disadvantage, revealing that some players were only called up days before departure. “We weren’t ready to participate in this tournament… preparations for CHAN should start a year in advance,” he noted.
On the opposite bench, Congo coach Barthelemy Ngatsono conceded his side were undone by a “wounded lion.” Despite elimination, he echoed Chelle’s concerns, pointing to inadequate preparation and a youthful squad still gaining experience.
Both nations exit at the group stage, but their reflections underline a common lesson: in African football, raw talent must be matched by preparation if potential is to turn into progress.