Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has welcomed the pressure of the Round of 16, expressing excitement as Nigeria prepares for the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
A strike by Paul Onuachu and a brace by midfielder Raphael Onyedika lifted a remarkably different Nigeria team to a 3-1 win over Uganda in their final Group C encounter.
Onuachu, started ahead of Akor Adams as Chelle made several changes to the squad that defeated Tanzania and Tunisia.
“Playing in the Round of 16 comes with pressure because it is a knockout stage, but I am excited and really looking forward to the game,” Chelle said.
“We feel good finishing top of our group and staying in Fès. The town, hotel, people and atmosphere are calm and perfect for concentration.”
Chelle also revealed that experimentation in Nigeria’s final group match against Uganda paid off.
“Against Uganda, we tried something new and I am happy with the result. But we must keep improving if we want to remain ambitious,” he added.
“The players worked very hard. Those selected showed their quality, scored three goals and gave a good account of themselves.”
The coach admitted selection decisions are becoming tougher as the tournament progresses.
“Now I have a small selection headache. Everyone can play, and that is perfect for a coach,” Chelle said.
Nigeria finished the group stage with maximum nine points and will face a third-placed team from Group F in the Round of 16.
Potential opponents include holders Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon or Mozambique, following the elimination of Comoros and Angola from Groups A and B. The Round of 16 clash will be played on Monday, January 5th, in Fès.
Meanwhile, Tanzania reached the knockout stage for the first time after a 1-1 draw with Tunisia and will face host nation Morocco.