Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has returned to Nigeria following a tour of Europe, where he met with key players ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Soccernet.ng understands.
Chelle's first stop upon arrival was a visit to the Flying Eagles’ training base in Ikenne Remo, where he assessed the team’s preparations for the upcoming U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria’s U-20 head coach, Aliyu Zubairu, has invited 30 players to camp as the Flying Eagles prepare for the 2025 U-20 AFCON, which will be held in Cote d’Ivoire from April 26 to May 18.
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The Flying Eagles, seven-time champions of the competition, will compete in Group B alongside Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa, in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.
READ MORE: “Not a group of death” – Flying Eagles coach Zubairu unfazed as Nigeria tackle Egypt, South Africa, Morocco
The top four teams from the tournament will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in September.
During his visit, Chelle observed training sessions, engaged with the players and coaches, and shared words of encouragement.
After his European tour, meeting with several Super Eagles players in Europe.
— Adepoju Tobi Samuel (@OgaNlaMedia) February 19, 2025
Eric Chelle is back in Nigeria to monitor the NPFL players.
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Eric Chelle focused on Super Eagles
While Chelle’s supervisory role covers the Flying Eagles and the CHAN Eagles, his primary focus remains trained on the Nigeria senior men's national team.
The former Mali national team head coach has been tasked with guiding the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
To this end, Chelle recently concluded a European tour, where he and his assistant, Hedi Taboubi, met with several Super Eagles players.
The duo visited Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi in England before heading to France to check in on Nantes winger Moses Simon. The meetings were part of Chelle’s ongoing efforts to build rapport with his squad ahead of Nigeria’s crucial World Cup qualifying matches.
The Super Eagles are set to face Rwanda in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Kigali on March 21, before hosting Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo four days later. These matches will be critical in Nigeria’s bid to secure a spot at the next World Cup.
Upon returning from Europe, Chelle is expected to attend several Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matches to scout for local talent.
This move aligns with the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) strategy of integrating more home-based players into the national team setup. The Super Eagles’ coach is particularly keen on identifying fresh talents who could bolster the squad in future competitions.
Nigeria qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with a game to spare but failed to make it to Qatar 2022 after stumbling at the last hurdle to Ghana.
