A lot of people will be wondering why I’m making this prediction or what I’m trying to insinuate. The truth is that this is the first AFCON that CAF did not hide its desire for the host to lift the trophy. It is clear like the crystal ball that Nigeria and Cameroon played into their hands.
This AFCON which will come to an end tomorrow has witnessed politics of the round leather game being displayed openly and countries playing Morocco now find it difficult to have any contact with their players who are being tactically protected by the referees.
Against Nigeria, I knew Morocco would win through penalty shootout and it was well stated in my prediction on Delta Sports Writers platform.
I knew that Nigeria may not be able to play Morocco because they have better players who got to the semi final of the last World Cup. Nobody can buy experience which they say is the best teacher.
Secondly, they have a better Coach than our own imported from Mali. You could see that the Nigerian Coach has no answer to the middles thrown at his team by Morocco. One could see that he did not have confidence on the players on the bench. One could see that in a major competition like this and at the knockout stage, the Coach did not plan for penalty shootout when a bloody sports administrator like me knew that it would end on a penalty shootout.
To buttress my point, the set who featured in the penalty shootout against D.R. Congo were different from those who played against Morocco. Truly, the gods are not to blame. You cannot give what you don’t have.
I knew that Nigeria players would rely on their individual talents hence wrong passes were made throughout the game as if they have not been training together. I knew that the team would falter when it matters most hence I advised my friends with BP to take their drugs before the match.
I knew that so many things would go wrong based on my personal experience and the rest is history.
Against Nigeria, the referee did not hide his intention and Morocco backed by CAF did hide their intention to host and win.
Presently, Morocco is the bride of CAF, and soon, will host the African Women Championship. They are ready to host any competition and CAF would want to compensate them.
Morocco will host 5 straight editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
They will also co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain.
Having said this let me drop the bombshell. Morocco will lose to Senegal when the final is played tomorrow.
My crystal ball keeps on telling me Senegal is not Nigeria where bonus issues are raised during competitions.
Yes, Senegal is not Nigeria where we beg players to come and form the green white jersey.
Senegal is not living on past glory like Nigeria that calls itself giant of Africa.
When last did we qualify for World Cup? What is the state of our league that no one is good for the national team? When last our club sides did shake the table in Africa? I can tell you that Senegal is not Nigeria where no referee is good enough to officiate at the AFCON.
Let’s call a spade a spade, Senegal is not Nigeria where they don’t plan ahead of any competition and I doubt if the referee and the fans can stop them. Against Morocco, there were only about 120 Nigerians among the 65,000 people present
Finally, let me rely on the script sent to me by Oris who works with Delta Broadcasting service, Warri on my questions regarding our nasty experience in Morocco.
Nigeria vs Morocco: This Defeat Was a Warning, Not an Accident!!!!
Nigeria did not lose because Morocco were unbeatable.
We lost because they were better prepared and better coached on the day.
We did not lose to Morocco because of bad luck, officiating, or a lack of talent.
We lost because clarity met confusion, structure met improvisation, and preparation exposed uncertainty.
Nigeria’s loss to Morocco exposed coaching and strategic shortcomings, not talent gaps or luck.
And until we accept that truth, we will keep recycling excuses instead of fixing problems.
Morocco beat Nigeria the way serious football teams beat opponents, that is with a clear plan, disciplined execution, and decisive in-game management. There was nothing spectacular about it. That is what should worry us the most.
This was not a gap in talent. It was a gap in ideas.
From kickoff, Morocco knew who they were. Their pressing was coordinated. Their midfield roles were clearly defined. Their wide players stretched play with purpose. When they had the ball, they controlled tempo. When they didn’t, they knew exactly when and how to disrupt Nigeria.
Nigeria, on the other hand, looked like a team waiting for moments instead of creating them.
Our midfield, the engine room of modern football, was surrendered far too easily. Spaces opened between the lines. Ball circulation was slow and predictable. There was no visible tempo-setter, no authority in possession. Once Morocco took control there, the game tilted permanently in their favour.
That is not a player problem.
That is a coaching problem.
Then we also have the challenge of Game management, When Morocco adjusted, we hesitated. Our Substitutions arrived late. Tactical responses felt reactive rather than intentional. The bench watched momentum shift before acting. At elite level, those moments define matches and they defined this defeat.
Now to the uncomfortable question everyone is asking: Do we sack the coach?
Not yet. But pretending this defeat is just “part of the process” would be dangerous dishonesty.
Nigeria’s football problem has never been only about who sits on the bench. It is about our refusal to demand clear standards. We sack coaches emotionally. We retain them sentimentally. We rarely evaluate them professionally. Most often as is being alleged, those in charge of the “employment” Always thing if the kick back from the coach’s salary.
Keeping Eric Chelle without accountability would be worse than firing him in anger.
If he stays, it must come with visible demands which should include that the country needs a defined playing identity, We should have a midfield balance and control relatively at all times, not that the minute a supposed key player is out, (Like we saw with Ndidi’s absence) the system collapses.
We have to demand for Faster, smarter game management, when the ships are down, a Manager’s reaction to challenges.
All these and more are demands the NFF should place on Erick Chelle for an improvement to grow. In as much as we should give the coach time to grow, we also should know that Nigeria is not a breeding grown for inexperienced coaches to “Learn on the Job”
If these issues persist, then the decision should be clinical, SACK HIM!
So this defeat should not trigger panic, it should trigger honesty.
Because if Nigerian football refuses to learn from nights like Wednesday Night, the coach’s name will keep changing, the players will keep coming.
