Nigeria’s national football team coach Eric Chelle rebuffed criticism over restricting media access to training sessions ahead of Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations knockout tie against Mozambique, insisting the measure was essential to shield his players from distractions during the pivotal phase of the tournament.
The Super Eagles, who topped their group with a perfect record, have barred journalists from observing practices for three straight days since Thursday, a step that drew ire from reporters who likened it unfavorably to more open policies by rivals like Morocco and Senegal.
At a pre-match briefing on Sunday, Chelle clarified that tournament regulations mandate only one media session, but he had extended an extra weekly opportunity out of deference to Nigerian press: “Because I respect this country, I respect you guys, my media officer and I talked before AFCON and agreed to give Nigerian journalists a second training session per week.”
He stressed the need for focus amid high expectations: “For me, it’s a good deal. But now we are not on holiday. I have to take care of my players. I have to work. This is not a question against you. I want my team to stay focused. We have a goal. We have an objective.”
Chelle warned against backlash if results faltered: “And if I open all of the training sessions for you, we could do that. But after that, if we lose, people will say, ‘Oh, Eric is crazy. He opened the door every time.’ So everyone needs to stay calm. This is not against you. This is to protect my players. I want them to stay focused.”
Photojournalist Olawale Quadri voiced discontent online, calling the restrictions “unprofessional” and recounting hardships like enduring cold and rain during limited player interactions: “Journalists were subjected to media parley with the players under the cold weather in an open field for the first time in Super Eagles history. Locking down training sessions for three days is unprofessional.”
The clash marks Nigeria’s bid for a fourth AFCON crown in the 2025 edition hosted by Morocco, with underdogs Mozambique eyeing an upset after their maiden advancement to the last 16.
