Final or Nothing: NFF Chief issues AFCON 2025 ultimatum to Eric Chelle

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau has delivered a clear and uncompromising ultimatum to newly appointed Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle: guide the team to the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco, or the experiment will be deemed a failure.

Speaking on Eagle FM, as shared on X, Gusau outlined the expectations placed on the Malian tactician, who was handed the reins of Nigerian football amid controversy and scepticism just weeks ago.

"The mandate given to Eric Chelle is to get to the AFCON final," Gusau declared, leaving no room for ambiguity about what constitutes success for the 47-year-old coach.

The appointment of Chelle raised eyebrows across Nigerian football. A relatively unknown quantity on the international stage, the former Mali assistant coach and Djoliba AC manager was chosen over several high-profile candidates who had been linked with the position.

Now, with AFCON 2025 on the horizon in Morocco, Gusau has made it crystal clear that anything short of a final appearance will not be acceptable. It's a bold mandate that reflects both the NFF's ambition and the immense pressure on a coach still finding his feet with a squad blessed with talent but hungry for silverware.

Nigeria last reached an AFCON final in 2013, when they defeated Burkina Faso to lift their third continental crown. Since then, the Super Eagles have endured a frustrating run of near-misses and underachievement on the African stage, including a disappointing group-stage exit at AFCON 2021 and a second-place finish in 2023 that ended in heartbreak against Ivory Coast.

In the same interview, Gusau was keen to emphasise that while the targets are non-negotiable, he has given Chelle complete autonomy over team selection and tactical decisions.

"I will never tell a coach to pick this or that player," the NFF President insisted. "I have never stayed in one hotel with the national team since I became the NFF President. I don't want to be a distraction."

It's a notable stance in Nigerian football, where past administrations have often been accused of interference, favoritism, and meddling in coaching matters. Gusau's comments suggest a desire to create professional distance between the federation's administrative arm and the technical bench at least publicly.

However, the flip side of this autonomy is stark accountability. Chelle has been given freedom to work, but the final-or-nothing mandate leaves little margin for error. If the Super Eagles fall short in Morocco, the Malian will have no excuses and no one else to blame.

For Eric Chelle, the ultimatum represents both an opportunity and a minefield. On one hand, he inherits a squad packed with talent: Victor Osimhen, a Ballon d'Or contender and one of Africa's deadliest strikers; a midfield featuring the likes of Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi; and a defensive line anchored by Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey.

On the other hand, expectations in Nigerian football are notoriously unforgiving. Coaches are often judged not just on results, but on style, squad selection, and their ability to manage the enormous egos and external pressures that come with the job. The NFF's public declaration of a final-or-bust mandate only amplifies that pressure.

Chelle has already made waves with his first squad announcement for AFCON 2025, introducing five new faces and making some controversial omissions, including the exclusion of experienced defender Ola Aina.

These decisions will be scrutinised endlessly as the tournament approaches, with every selection now viewed through the lens of whether it brings Nigeria closer to that mandated final.

Nigerian football fans are among the most passionate and demanding in the world. After years of unfulfilled promise and painful near-misses, they are desperate for a return to continental glory.

The question now is whether Eric Chelle, a relative outsider thrust into one of African football's hottest seats, can deliver under the weight of such explicit expectations.

The stakes couldn't be higher. The mandate couldn't be clearer. Final or nothing.

For Eric Chelle, the countdown to Morocco has begun and with it, one of the most pressurised coaching assignments in African football.

AFCON 2025 kicks off in Morocco in December. Nigeria has been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.