{"id":832463,"date":"2025-03-08T10:12:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T16:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/08\/fa-cup-winner-faults-eric-chelles-inclusion-of-ex-leicester-man-city-stars-in-super-eagles-squad\/"},"modified":"2025-03-08T10:12:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T16:12:10","slug":"fa-cup-winner-faults-eric-chelles-inclusion-of-ex-leicester-man-city-stars-in-super-eagles-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/08\/fa-cup-winner-faults-eric-chelles-inclusion-of-ex-leicester-man-city-stars-in-super-eagles-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"FA Cup winner faults Eric Chelle\u2019s inclusion of ex-Leicester &#038; Man City stars in Super Eagles squad"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Super+Eagles\">Super Eagles<\/a> head coach <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Eric+Chelle\">Eric Chelle<\/a> has faced fresh criticism over his squad selection for Nigeria\u2019s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, <a href=\"https:\/\/Soccernet.ng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Chelle unveiled a 39-man provisional squad on Tuesday ahead of the fixtures, with Nigeria set to face <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Rwanda\">Rwanda<\/a> in Kigali on March 21 before hosting <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Zimbabwe\">Zimbabwe<\/a> in Uyo four days later.<\/p>\n<p>While the list included several established internationals and in-form players, the invitation of <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Ahmed+Musa\">Ahmed Musa<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Kelechi+Iheanacho\">Kelechi Iheanacho<\/a> has sparked debate among football stakeholders.<\/p>\n<p>Ahmed Musa, Nigeria\u2019s most-capped player with 110 appearances and 18 goals, remains a revered figure after scoring at two World Cup tournaments and helping the Super Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p>\u2014 Soccernet.ng (@soccernet_ng) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/soccernet_ng\/status\/1897363876045578523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>However, the 32-year-old, who now plies his trade with <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Kano+Pillars\">Kano Pillars<\/a> in the Nigeria Professional Football League, has not played a competitive minute for Nigeria since 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Musa, who has scored six goals and provided two assists in 17 appearances for Kano Pillars this season, was overlooked by previous coaches George Finidi and Augustine Eguavoen. However, Chelle\u2019s decision to recall the veteran forward has divided opinion.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_146203\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-146203\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/imago1052953913-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho. Photo by IMAGO \" width=\"2095\" height=\"2560\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-146203\">Nigeria Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>READ MORE\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/03\/super-eagles-genk-slavia-eric-chelle.html\">Super Eagles call-up: World Cup-winning coach tips Genk &#038; Slavia Prague stars to impress Eric Chelle<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/03\/7-players-who-wont-make-super-eagles-cut.html\">Eric Chelle\u2019s 39-man Super Eagles list: Predicting seven players who will not make the final cut<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Middlesbrough striker Iheanacho has also struggled for form this season. The former Manchester City man joined Sevilla last summer after leaving Leicester City but endured a torrid spell in Spain, failing to score in La Liga before returning to England on loan in January. He is yet to find the net for Middlesbrough.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Official: Osimhen, Lookman, Ndidi in Eric Chelle\u2019s first Super Eagles squad for Rwanda, Zimbabwe (FULL LIST) Super Eagles <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LZyhoWdfso\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/LZyhoWdfso<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Soccernet.ng (@soccernet_ng) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/soccernet_ng\/status\/1896941087736140261?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 4, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Former BCC Lions captain Bolaji Douglas has become the latest voice to question the inclusion of the two players, suggesting their presence blocks opportunities for younger, in-form talents.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt is easy to spot the names,\u201d Douglas told <a href=\"https:\/\/thenationonlineng.net\/only-chelle-can-defend-super-eagles-list-says-bolaji-douglas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Nation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAhmed Musa has served the nation very well; I don\u2019t see what he is still doing there. He is blocking someone\u2019s position. Kelechi Iheanacho has struggled this season. Those two readily come to mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Douglas, who captained BCC Lions to two FA Cup triumphs in 1993 and 1994, added that the national team should not be a place for players to regain form.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe national team should never become a rehabilitation centre or a place to come and wind down from the hectic demands on the players by their clubs season,\u201d Douglas said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile it may be said that now is not the time to experiment with new players, it can equally be said that there should be no room for those not on top of their games.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_151081\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-151081\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/imago1057772429-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and his assistant coaches. Photo by IMAGO\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-151081\">Nigeria Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and his assistant coaches. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Chelle\u2019s decision to invite Musa and Iheanacho has come at the expense of several in-form Nigerian stars, with Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi, \u00c7aykur Rizespor\u2019s Ibrahim Olawoyin, and LOSC Lille striker Chuba Akpom among those left out.<\/p>\n<p>With Nigeria still searching for their first win in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers following draws against Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa last year, the pressure will be on Chelle to justify his squad selection when the Super Eagles resume their qualifying campaign.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Soccer Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0327-copy-150x150.jpg\"  height=\"80\" width=\"80\">\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/author\/imhonlamhen-eronmhonsele\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele\t\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.<\/p>\n<p>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.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/03\/eric-chelles-man-city-super-eagles.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has faced fresh criticism over his squad selection for Nigeria\u2019s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Soccernet.ng reports. Chelle unveiled a 39-man provisional squad on Tuesday ahead of the fixtures, with Nigeria set to face Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":832464,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[95540,2005,1728],"tags":[107011,7869],"class_list":["post-832463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-faults","category-soccer","category-winner","tag-faults","tag-winner"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/832463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=832463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/832463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/832464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=832463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=832463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=832463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}