As Nigeria gears up for a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown, Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, is set to make bold squad changes, prioritizing merit over reputation.
The Malian tactician, tasked with revamping the Super Eagles, has signaled a new selection policy that could see overlooked talents such as Chuba Akpom, Nathan Tella, and Chrisantus Uche finally earn their place in the national team.
Introducing Eric Chelle, New Head Coach of the Super Eagles #soarsupereagles #naija4thewin #letsdoitagain pic.twitter.com/zxY0GxmTAV
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) January 7, 2025
Despite impressive performances in Europe, Akpom, Tella, and Uche have yet to feature in Nigeria’s recent AFCON or World Cup qualifiers.
- Chuba Akpom has enjoyed a resurgence, shining for Middlesbrough and Ajax before his recent move to Lille.
- Nathan Tella is making waves at Bayer Leverkusen, where he could soon claim his first club goal award.
- Chrisantus Uche has emerged as one of La Liga’s standout players, showcasing his talent on the Spanish stage.
Their exclusion from past call-ups has drawn criticism, especially as Nigeria’s squad has previously included injured, out-of-form players, and club benchwarmers—a major factor in the Super Eagles’ winless campaign so far.
Currently sitting fifth in Group C, Nigeria trails behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin, and Lesotho. With only the group winners securing an automatic World Cup ticket, Chelle faces a tough challenge in reigniting Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
Akpom recently hinted at a fresh approach under Chelle, revealing insights from a conversation with Nigeria’s top striker, Victor Osimhen.
"I was just speaking to Victor Osimhen after our game against Galatasaray," Akpom told journalist Oluwashina Okeleji via ScoreNigeria.
"There are a lot of good strikers in the team, but I believe the national team should always be picked on merit. Victor said the new coach has the mentality that if you’re not performing in training or playing well for your club, you won’t get selected. I’m always open to it—if I get the call-up, it’ll be an honour."
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to release Chelle’s squad list for the must-win qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe next month.
- March 16: Players arrive in Kigali for pre-match preparations.
- March 21: Nigeria faces Rwanda in Kigali.
- March 25: Super Eagles host Zimbabwe in Uyo.
With Chelle currently in Europe, finalizing his selections, reports indicate a strict camp policy, ensuring only players capable of adding value make the squad.
“It will no longer be an all-comers camp,” a source told The Guardian. “The coach is focused only on players who can contribute to the team’s success.”
As Nigeria desperately seeks to revive their qualification campaign, Chelle’s merit-based philosophy could be the turning point the Super Eagles need.
Work begins 🦅🇳🇬 👊🏾
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) February 4, 2025
Éric Chelle’s first two games as Super Eagles head coach will be the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers—Rwanda away and Zimbabwe at home in March, let’s go super eagles !!! pic.twitter.com/hNAHDTKLvn
