Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has defended the decision to restrict media access to the team for three days ahead of Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 Round of 16 encounter against Mozambique on Monday.

Chelle said the temporary media blackout was aimed at helping his players remain fully focused as they prepare for the crucial knockout fixture against the Mambas.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the coach explained that his priority was the welfare and concentration of the players rather than shutting out the media.

“My job isn’t to cut off the national team from the media,” Chelle said. “My responsibility is to take care of the players and focus on the work.”

He added that limiting access was a deliberate strategy to maintain focus within the camp.

“I want my team to stay focused. We have a goal and an objective,” Chelle noted. “If I open all the training sessions and then we lose, people will say I’m crazy for opening the doors every time.”

Nigeria will face Mozambique on Monday as the Super Eagles look to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.