Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has admitted that his team’s intense first-half press wore them out in their 2-1 semifinal win over Ghana at the Unity Cup in London.
- Nigeria surged to a 2-0 lead in the first half, with goals from Cyriel Dessers and a Ghana own goal.
- Ghana bounced back strongly after the break, pushing Nigeria onto the back foot.
- Chelle attributes the drop in intensity to physical fatigue from their high-pressure tactic
“My dream is to keep high pressure for 90 minutes, but I think it is impossible,” said the Franco-Malian coach. “We need to improve. We need to work. The players need to know what I want.”
Chelle, who took over the Super Eagles this year, has had just a handful of training sessions with the squad. Still, he's optimistic: “I’m so proud of them. They fight. It was difficult, but we deserved the victory.”
Nigeria will now face Jamaica in the Unity Cup final. The Reggae Boyz edged past Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 in the other semifinal. The clash promises an exciting finish to the London-based friendly tournament.
