Under My Watch: Eric Chelle Warns NFF on Player Imposition
- Coach Eric Chellah of the Super Eagles has warned officials at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stating unequivocally that he won’t accept any efforts to force players upon his team.
- As Nigeria gets ready for the forthcoming Unity Cup in London, many eligible Nigerian players have expressed their dedication to playing for their country.
- Chelle, who had overseen Mali’s operations prior to leading the Super Eagles into the World Cup qualifiers, stressed that only those giving their all will have a chance at being selected for important fixtures.
Eric Chelle has clearly asserted that he will under no circumstances accept any meddling from officials at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regarding the choice of players.
Selected by the NFF earlier this year, the 47-year-old individual received the responsibility of guiding the Super Eagles to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Nigeria failed to secure a spot in the 2022 event held in Qatar.
Chelle also created history by becoming the first person not from Nigeria to lead the national team, succeeding technical director Austin Eguavoen following the departures of Jose Peseiro and Finidi George as reported by the BBC.
Currently, the three-time winners of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are getting ready for the forthcoming Unity Cup involving four nations. Alongside them, their West African counterparts from Ghana have also confirmed their attendance, along with Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, according to Punch.
Multiple players with Nigerian heritage who are based abroad have contacted Chelle, expressing their dedication to play for the Super Eagles.
Under the guidance of Ibrahim Gusau, the Nigeria Football Federation continues to back Chelle’s expeditions across Europe in an effort to discover top talent for bolstering the country’s national squad.
What Eric Chelle said
A representative of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed that head coach Eric Chiele is becoming progressively worried due to persistent meddling from some powerful individuals in the soccer world.
As reported by The Guardian, the Malian strategist sticks firmly to his position and refuses to make concessions regarding his values.
The official stated that recent efforts to assign players to Chelle before the forthcoming Unity Cup in London were initiated without the consent or awareness of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau. The official mentioned this as follows:
The straightforward coach, Eric Chelle, is presently resisting pressure from certain stakeholders attempting to sway his team selections for the Unity Cup.
He refuses to hear out anybody else because the NFF president granted him explicit permission to select his squad autonomously, as he alone will bear responsibility for the outcomes.
Chelle is a determined mentor, and I think anyone attempting to meddle ought to be ready for some surprising outcomes.
Eguavoen praises the inclusion of Iheanacho
Diwida >.ng Earlier reports indicated that Augustine Eguavoen commended Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle for including Middlesbrough forward Kelechi Iheanacho in the 39-man preliminary squad announced on March 4.
The individual, who is 59 years old, mentioned that the player, once a recipient of the FIFA U17 Golden Ball award, has the caliber necessary to warrant consideration for such a comprehensive roster.
The Technical Director at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) highlighted that the ex-Manchester City player's expertise and offensive capabilities have consistently been significant resources for Nigeria.
