Nigeria’s Super Eagles have suffered an early and humiliating exit from the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after failing to secure a single point in the group stage.
The home based squad, coached by Chelle Éric Sékou, lost both of their opening matches falling 1-0 to Senegal in a tightly contested opener before being dismantled 4-0 by Sudan in a one sided encounter.
This marks Nigeria’s worst ever performance in the history of CHAN, a tournament specifically designed for players plying their trade in domestic leagues.
Fans and pundits alike have described the campaign as “embarrassing” and “unacceptable” for a country with Nigeria’s football pedigree.
The loss to Sudan, in particular, has intensified the backlash, with Nigerian supporters flooding social media to demand the immediate dismissal of Coach Sékou.
Critics argue that his tactical approach lacked creativity, his player selections were questionable, and the team appeared unmotivated and poorly organized throughout the tournament.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is expected to meet in the coming days to review the CHAN disaster and decide on Sékou’s future.
Nigeria failing to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2011, pressure is mounting for a complete overhaul of the domestic football structure, starting with the coaching staff.