Soccer
Former national team handler Chief Adeboye Onigbinde has advised new Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle that effectively managing the country’s vast talent pool will be crucial to success, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria boast some of the most recognisable names in world football, with Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi playing in England, Victor Boniface and Gift Orban shining in Germany, and Chuba Akpom and Moses Simon featuring in France.
The likes of Chrisantus Uche and Chidera Ejuke ply their trade in Spain, while Samuel Chukwueze and Africa Player of the Year Ademola Lookman represent Italy’s top clubs.
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN IS NAMED THE 2024 CAF MEN’S AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Europa League winner
Atalanta Player of the Season
Named in Europa League Team of the Year
⚽️ Hat trick vs. Leverkusen in the Europa League final
⚽️ 18 G/A in Serie A last season
⚽️ 16 G/A in… pic.twitter.com/jsjMZkZQfu— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 16, 2024
Despite this wealth of talent, Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign has been underwhelming.
The Super Eagles sit fifth in Group C, trailing Rwanda, South Africa, Benin, and Lesotho. With only the group winners securing automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Eric Chelle has a difficult task ahead.
After a period of instability, during which Finidi George and Augustine Eguavoen briefly led the team, Chelle’s appointment has brought renewed focus.
The Malian tactician has been tasked by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with steering the Super Eagles to the World Cup for the first time since 2018.
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He has already met with key players in Europe, including Iwobi, Ndidi, and Simon, as he looks to build a cohesive unit.
The former Mali coach is also reportedly looking to integrate talents from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Head coach Éric Chelle and first assistant Hedi Taboubi visited some Super Eagles players ahead of the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers. #RoadToWorldCup2026 #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/fvHm1woBd7
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) February 8, 2025
What message does Onigbinde have for Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle?
Onigbinde, who led Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations and took Shooting Stars to the 1994 CAF Champions League final, believes Eric Chelle has an abundance of quality in attack, midfield, and defence.
However, the former CAF and FIFA instructor insists talent alone will not be enough.
“It depends on how you look at it,” Onigbinde told Complete Sports. “If you are thinking of the quality possessed by Nigeria, what I can call natural talents, then there is no reason why Nigeria should not beat Rwanda.
“Not only Rwanda but other teams in our group. Nigeria has the materials to be one of the best in the world. But then, how do we manage some of these talents?”
Nigeria’s road to qualification resumes in March with fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The Super Eagles will then face Rwanda again in August, followed by a crucial away tie against South Africa in September.
With South Africa currently joint group leaders alongside Rwanda and Benin on seven points, Nigeria—who have just three—must find form quickly to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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