Eric Chelle Shields Squad from Distractions in Crucial Knockout Preparations.

Super Eagles closed door training AFCON 2025

Nigeria’s Super Eagles continued their intense preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 tie against Mozambique with a third straight closed-door training session on Saturday in Morocco.

Team media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed the development, explaining that head coach Eric Chelle has opted to bar media access to minimize distractions as the tournament enters its decisive knockout phase.

The three-time AFCON champions topped their group with a perfect record and are now fully focused on advancing further. This marks the second AFCON meeting between Nigeria and Mozambique, following the Super Eagles’ dominant 3-0 victory in the 2010 edition in Angola – courtesy of a brace from Yakubu Aiyegbeni and a goal from Peter Odemwingie.

Chelle’s approach underscores the high stakes, with the squad aiming to maintain momentum and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

The highly anticipated clash is set for Monday in Fez, where Nigeria will look to replicate their historical superiority while navigating a motivated Mozambican side boosted by presidential incentives.