I Almost Retired If We Lost to Egypt: Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 Bronze Moment

AFCON 2025 Bronze Moment

Eric Shiel, Nigeria's head coach, admitted he seriously considered quitting coaching if the team failed to finish top three at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco 2025.

Nigeria clinched the bronze in the CAN after beating Egypt on penalties (4-2) on Saturday, after the match ended goalless.

Shiel said after the game on CanalPlus France that it might not be wise to discuss the issue now, but he would speak anyway. If Nigeria had not finished third, it would have been very hard for him to continue as coach.

The Nigerian coach added that his first AFCON with Mali showed the team played the best football but were knocked out in the quarterfinals; in this edition they were the best in play and philosophy, yet still failed, making continuation difficult and perhaps retirement a possibility.

He further noted that at that moment he did not know exactly what he would have done next, perhaps working with youth or serving as a technical director with a national team.

Nigeria’s coach emphasized the players' role, saying the squad gave him a wonderful gift and that he had promised his father and mother he would return with Africa’s trophy, only to come back with bronze, which he called a good result for him.

In the same breath, a sidebar recap reminded readers of AFCON moments including a clash between Senegal and Morocco, underscoring the tournament's competitive atmosphere.

Ultimately, Shiel underlined the importance of his players’ spirit and the bronze medal, suggesting that the journey matters as much as the destination, plus a wink to the idea that coaches deserve a snack after a long press conference.

Punchline 1: If coaching paid in trophies, his calendar would need a vacation day every week. Punchline 2: He could retire to a beach, but even there the corners of the sun would demand tactical precision.