Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has defended his decision to name several players from Remo Stars and Rivers United for the 2024 African Nations Championship.
Chelle compared his decision to Morocco, South Africa, and Angola who selected players from their best-performing domestic clubs.
The Super Eagles head coach explained the reasons behind the various call-ups, which were based on his philosophy.
He emphasized the importance of team bonding, collective spirit, and playing with players who already share chemistry and a strong understanding of each other.
“The majority of players that come into the national team in Morocco are from top teams like Raja Club Athletic and Wydad Casablanca. It’s the same with Angola—many of their national players come from their best clubs. If you look at South Africa, it’s the same.”
Chelle also addressed the inclusion of home based players in the AFCON (African Cup of Nations) squad, clarifying:
“I’m not just talking about CHAN or local players—I’m talking about the AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations).”
The Malian-French tactician further explained the importance of players understanding his philosophy:
“In this team, there are eight players from one club. This is not because my assistant coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, is the coach of Remo Stars.
“My only concern is my philosophy. I have a style of play—I want us to keep the ball. When we lose it, I want us to press high and recover quickly. So I need players who can play according to that philosophy.
“There are many good players, but the reality is this: if a player’s style doesn’t align with my game plan, I can’t include them. That’s why I have to select players who fit my approach. After that, it’s my responsibility to build something with those players.”
Finally, Chelle addressed the absence of some key players in the squad:
“The reality is, we have the best players in the league. Maybe one or two others deserve to be here, but this is the situation. In our last game against Ghana in the qualifiers, Papa Daniel was dropped because he signed for a European club. We’re also missing Waliu Ojetoye and several others. So this is a new team, and once again, we are working hard.”
Nigeria will kick off their CHAN campaign on August 5th against Senegal. The team has already played two friendlies in preparation for the tournament, including a match against Zanzibar.
