AFCON 2025
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has narrated the story behind his viral picture at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire.
Following Mali’s 2-1 quarter-finals loss to Cote D’Ivoire despite taking the lead in the 71st minute, a video of one of Eric Chelle’s backroom staff pouring water on his head as he stooped low in disappointment.
The video was one of the major highlights of the competition as fans online made mockery of him and the ouster of the Malian national team from the competition.
Eric Chelle, now coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria has opened up on what lead to the famous incident at the 2023 AFCON.
The 47-year-old manager told Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana that he lead the Hawks of Mali to the tournament on the back of a cardiac surgery.
He went on to add that the incident of his assistant pouring water on his head was to calm his nerves after Mali conceded the second goal in added time of extra-time.
“Everyone calls me ‘Water man’, because of that match. But do you know the story behind that?” Chelle asked Osasu in Zanzibar.
“Before the tournament, I had surgery, in France, for a cardiac problem. It was issues relating to that which led to them pouring water on me, to revive me.”
Eric Chelle is tasked with helping the Super Eagles avoid a monumental disaster – qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup thereby avoiding missing out on two consecutive tournaments.
Unfortunately, the Super Eagles find themselves in a precarious situation with seven points from six matches heading into next month round of qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa.
Eric Chelle says he’s not bothered by the immense pressure he’s under to help the three-time African champions scale the hurdle.
“People have already written us off (with Nigeria failing, so far, to win a single home match in qualifying). But I am not bothered by that. I am concentrating on preparing my players for the remaining four matches that we have. I think that we are going to surprise a lot of people,”
The Super Eagles will take on Rwanda in Uyo on Friday, 6th of September and South Africa in Blomfontein three days later as they look to bag maximum points in both matches.
