- Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle says coaching Nigeria comes with huge expectations.
- He plans to lead Nigeria to the World Cup playoffs and push for AFCON victory.
- Chelle is tracking over 80 players weekly for team selection, insisting only the best fit the Super Eagles.
- The coach believes Nigeria has the quality to win if the Super Eagles remain focused.
Eric Chelle already knew what he was signing up for before accepting the position of Super Eagles coach. The former Mali handler said the expectations from Nigerians are loud and clear, win matches or step aside.
Speaking to CAFOnline, Chelle said coaching Nigeria is “huge” and emotionally different from every other job he has held. He explained that Nigeria’s football reputation is massive and carries global respect, so for him, leading the team feels like entering his own World Cup.
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He recalled watching the Super Eagles during the 1998 World Cup in France and even buying the team’s jerseys as a fan. According to him, standing on the touchline today as the head coach is not just a job, it is personal pride.
Chelle is aware that Nigerians react quickly to team performance, and the pressure can be overwhelming. To stay focused, he has deliberately stepped away from social media, creating what he calls his “bubble” to concentrate on the work ahead. His mission: win the World Cup playoff and take a strong team to Morocco for AFCON.
He revealed that mindset and mentality will play a huge role in winning games. With limited time during national team camps, Chelle stresses values such as respect, unity, and discipline. He believes these elements are the invisible force behind performance on the pitch.
When it comes to player selection, he says Nigeria is blessed with top attackers, more than 25 who can play across the frontline. The technical crew tracks over 80 Nigerian players every week, watching about 80 club matches to evaluate performance and form.
According to him, selection isn’t just based on popularity. Players must be active for their clubs, be in good form, and fit into the tactical plan of the Super Eagles. He admits that sometimes tactics outweigh individual performance.
He used the example of Ademola Lookman, even when the Atalanta forward had limited playtime earlier in the season, Chelle couldn’t imagine naming a squad without the reigning African Player of the Year.
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With the playoffs against Gabon first, then possibly Cameroon or DR Congo, Chelle insists the priority is to secure the World Cup ticket before shifting full focus to AFCON. He believes the team has suffered, fought back, and that resilience can hurt any opponent.
His voice carried conviction as he added: “If we stay serious, motivated and united, stopping us will be difficult.”
