Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | by DAILY MENTOR NEWS
Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team, under the stewardship of French coach Eric Chelle, is facing sharp criticism following a dismal performance at the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Tanzania.
The team suffered back-to-back losses by 1-0 against Senegal and a shocking 4-0 defeat against Sudan, resulting in Nigeria’s early exit from the tournament. As the Super Eagles B gear up for their final group game against Congo, the writing is on the wall — Nigeria will be leaving CHAN without a win.
Chelle’s tactics and leadership have sparked debates among football experts and fans alike, raising serious questions about his suitability to guide Nigeria’s senior national team towards qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Media consultant and football development expert Ibrahim Lawal criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing Chelle to lead the home-based Super Eagles. Lawal suggested that a domestic coach familiar with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) would be better suited to manage the home-based squad.
“The NFF bringing Chelle to coach the home-based Super Eagles is the first mistake,” Lawal said.
“Chelle should focus on identifying home-based players for the main Super Eagles team. The CHAN tournament has organizational issues, but it remains a vital platform for local talents.”
Despite the poor CHAN showing, Lawal recognizes the potential within the Nigerian squad, noting that Nigeria remains one of the top footballing nations in Africa, with considerable talent both domestically and abroad.
Looking ahead to the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers set for September, the Super Eagles face Uganda and South Africa. Chelle still has a formidable task to instill tactical discipline and inspire the squad to secure World Cup qualification.
Lawal concluded, “Statistically, Chelle’s first three games with the Super Eagles B yielded two wins and a draw. Judging him now might be premature, but he must improve tactical discipline to achieve success.”
With Nigeria at a crossroads in domestic and international football, the challenge remains for Chelle to translate the promise of talented players into results on the global stage.