DR ‹ › Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle acknowledged that Morocco fully deserved their victory after the Atlas Lions qualified for the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, edging the Super Eagles 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw following extra time. «I'm very happy for Walid. It's good for Africa. This is a beautiful Africa Cup», Chelle said. Speaking at the post-match press conference at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the Nigerian coach admitted the disappointment of the outcome. «It's hard to lose on penalties. We have to accept this defeat and keep working», he said. «We had the right mindset and knew the match would be difficult». Chelle also pointed to fatigue and missed chances as key factors. «We missed some opportunities and lost the ball too often. We were tired», he acknowledged, adding that Morocco applied sustained pressure throughout the game. He stressed that Nigeria had prepared thoroughly for the shootout and that the players selected to take penalties were the most suitable. «I'm disappointed with the result, but I'm proud of my players», he continued. «Now we need to stay focused on the classification match against Egypt». He concluded by congratulating Morocco on the «exceptional organization» of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
