Eric Chelle: Super Eagles AFCON Squad Not His Best Team

Eric Chelle, the head coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, claimed that the squad selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was not his best team. He highlighted that the absence of two important players, Ola Aina from Nottingham Forest and Benjamin Fredrick from Brentford, limited his tactical options.

Chelle noted that Aina's injury, sustained during a 1-1 draw against South Africa in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, sidelined him for 116 days. He also mentioned that Bright Osayi-Samuel replaced Aina after he was forced off early in the match.

Chelle, who previously coached Mali, guided Nigeria to a bronze medal finish in the last AFCON. He is now focusing on gradually replacing aging players in preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Additionally, he attempted to persuade young talents like Ethan Nwaneri and Jacob Murphy to commit to Nigeria's national team for future competitions.