World Cup Qualifiers: No interference in Super Eagles squad, Eric Chelle took his time to prepare this list ? Eguavoen

World Cup Qualifiers: No interference in Super Eagles squad, Eric Chelle took his time to prepare this list ? Eguavoen

The Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Austin Eguavoen, has said that the new head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, had the final say on the final squad for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

The Malian manager on Tuesday, March 11, unveiled his final 23-man squad ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

 

The list retained key players such as Stanley Nwabali, William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Osimhen for the must-win matches.
 
Nigeria will face group C leaders Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, March 21st, before hosting Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo four days later, on March 25th.

Eguavoen, who was the interim coach of the team before Chelle’s appointment, stated that the coach took his time to prepare this list himself.

“I want Nigerians to get clarity on something, I’ve been technical director for a few years and I have attended FIFA workshops where I ask questions a lot and they made it clear to me that a senior national team coach anywhere in the world has a final say on who he wants on his list,” Eguavoen said while featuring on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football.

“We can interact, we cannot interfere. If he says no, it’s no. That is why they can fire a senior national team coach at any time. So I will say Eric Chelle took his time to prepare this list and he has the final say.”

 

Another member of the technical committee and ex-international, Victor Ikpeba, also added: “This young man (Chelle) has a pool of about 45 to 50 Nigerian layers abroad. So, it’s his discretion and he has been monitoring these players in the provisional list. He knows his 23, 24 or 25 players, it’s his choice to make. So, there was no interference.” 

 

 

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