January 03, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s Super Eagles conducted their third successive closed-door training session on Friday, January 3, under head coach, Eric Chelle’s directive, to maintain complete focus before their Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 encounter with Mozambique. The French coach has barred media personnel and visitors from the training ground to eliminate distractions during tactical preparations.
Chelle implemented strict access controls throughout Thursday, Friday and potentially Sunday, permitting journalists only brief 15-minute windows on designated days or following press conferences. It is a part of his commitment to safeguarding the team’s strategic plans ahead of high-stakes fixtures.
Nigeria will face Mozambique on Monday, January 6, having topped their group with three victories from three matches. The Super Eagles enter the knockout phase as group winners following their flawless record in the opening round.
Star striker, Victor Osimhen, did not participate in Thursday’s New Year’s Day session, with the coaching staff citing load management and recovery protocols. Ryan Alebiosu and Cyriel Dessers remained unavailable due to injury concerns.
Full media access is expected to resume on Saturday and Sunday before the Mozambique fixture. Chelle’s continued emphasis on training secrecy dovetails into his much broader strategy of maintaining discipline and protecting tactical information during the tournament.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
