Nigeria and Rwanda stars praise coaches Eric Chelle and Adel Amrouche pre-World Cup qualifiers

Players from Nigeria and Rwanda have heaped praise on their respective national team coaches ahead of their World Cup qualifying clash on Friday, Soccernet.ng reports.

Both sides are under new management, with the Super Eagles appointing Eric Chelle in January, while Rwanda’s Amavubi turned to Algerian coach Adel Amrouche earlier this month—just days before the qualifiers.

The match will serve as the first official test for both tacticians as they look to steer their teams towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Rwandan players embrace Amrouche’s leadership

Several Rwandan players have spoken highly of Amrouche following their early training sessions under his guidance.

The former Tanzania and Kenya boss replaced German coach Torsten Spittler, who failed to secure Rwanda a spot at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco this December.

However, Spittler left the team in a promising position for the World Cup qualifiers, with Rwanda currently topping their group on goal difference after four matches.

After getting a feel for Amrouche’s methods, several players expressed their confidence in his ability to elevate the team, as per New Times.

Midfielder Kevin Muhire said,

“What I believe is that he is a good coach—his communication, his approach to training, everything. We are happy to have him, and with his methods, we trust we’ll get good results in the next two matches.”

Amrouche brings a wealth of experience, having coached several national teams across Africa and the Middle East. His tactical awareness and ability to maximize squad potential have earned him widespread respect.

Midfielder Bosco Ruboneka highlighted the Algerian’s leadership qualities, stating,

“He introduced himself to us, we had a chat, and he clearly outlined his expectations. He communicated his ambitions and started us off with simple drills since it was our first session. We appreciate not only his humility but also his ability to transform players’ mindsets.”

Another midfielder, Steve Rubanguka, echoed similar sentiments, believing Amrouche’s arrival marks a turning point for Rwanda.

“He has a great approach to working with players, and I believe he will take us to another level. With his past coaching experience, he has what it takes to elevate our game,” he said.

Troost-Ekong and Lookman back Eric Chelle’s methods

On the Nigerian side, team captain William Troost-Ekong and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman have responded positively to Chelle’s approach in the buildup to the game.

Chelle, a former Mali international, has been working closely with the Super Eagles since his appointment, and players have already embraced his tactical philosophy.

Al Kholood defender Troost-Ekong, who was the most valuable player at the 2023 AFCON, spoke about the squad’s excitement at working under the new coach.

“We are very happy to work with the new coach. He has given us a lot of new instructions. For us, it’s just to make sure that we understand what he wants from us on Friday, but we are working towards that now.”

He also emphasized the importance of team unity and quickly adapting to Chelle’s style:

“It’s always special when I’m here. Whenever I have this badge on my chest, I’m very, very happy. So, being with the new coach, we tried our best to welcome him as quickly as possible. He’s been very clear on what he wants from us, what he’s expecting, and now it’s just for us to understand it and do the job.”

With Nigeria looking to maintain their qualification hopes, Troost-Ekong stressed the importance of breaking their preparations into achievable objectives.

“We try to break it down into things that we can actually achieve, our objectives. We are trying to prepare for the game, be very objective in how we are trying to approach it and what we need to do to focus on Rwanda.”

Lookman, set to play his first game for Nigeria since being named Africa’s Best Player, also shared his thoughts on the team’s preparations.

The former Leicester City and RB Leipzig ace revealed that Chelle has emphasized tactical clarity in team meetings, which has helped the players understand their roles better.

“We’ve had loads of meetings—how the manager wants us to play, our game plan, aspects of how we defend and attack. It’s all positive, and we’re all keying into his ideas,” Lookman told OJB. 

The Atalanta winger further added that the training sessions have been productive, with players responding well to Chelle’s instructions.

“We’ve had our second session today, and yesterday’s session went well as well—so positive feelings. Before training, we had meetings, so we were just implementing that in training.”

Nigeria and Rwanda set for key World Cup qualifier

The Super Eagles face a crucial test against Rwanda on March 22 at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

With the stakes high, Nigeria must secure a win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Anything less than three points would significantly dent their chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Meanwhile, Rwanda will look to build on their strong start to the qualifiers, with Amrouche’s men set to face Lesotho four days after their encounter with Nigeria.

Both coaches will be eager to make a strong first impression in their debut matches, knowing that a victory could set the tone for the rest of the campaign.