Alternative to Osimhen? Nigeria boss Chelle watches Monaco teen wonder against Marseille

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is ramping up his mission to reshape Nigeria’s national team, with teenage sensation George Ilenikhena emerging as a potential future star for the three-time African champions, Soccernet.ng reports.

Chelle was spotted at the Stade Louis-II on Saturday during AS Monaco’s commanding 3-0 win over Olympique Marseille in Ligue 1.

According to Africa Foot United, the Franco-Malian tactician was in attendance specifically to observe 18-year-old Ilenikhena, the promising Nigerian-born striker who has steadily been gaining attention in Belgium and France.

The move comes as part of Chelle’s wider strategy to bolster his squad ahead of a packed calendar that includes the 2025 Unity Cup in London and crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers later this year.

In March, Nigeria’s qualification campaign suffered a blow after a 1-1 home draw against Zimbabwe followed a 2-0 away victory over Rwanda in Kigali.

Chelle, who took over the Super Eagles job earlier this year, had promised to look beyond established stars and introduce new, exciting talents into the setup.

George Ilenikhena #UCL pic.twitter.com/NCuk06BAhd

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 21, 2024

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Speaking after the March internationals, Chelle hinted that fans should expect fresh faces when Nigeria travel to London in May for the Unity Cup – a four-nation mini-tournament involving Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.

One of those potential new faces is Ilenikhena, who played the final five minutes against Marseille on Saturday. He came off the bench to replace Breel Embolo, who had scored Monaco’s second goal of the game.

George Ilenikhena scored 2⃣ goals in his first Ligue 1 match in 2025 ⚽️

Not the worst way to come back after an injury pic.twitter.com/WMC29NiQk7

— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) February 15, 2025

Born in Nigeria, shaped in France

Born in Lagos but raised in France, George Ilenikhena is eligible to represent both nations.

Though he has featured for France’s youth teams — most notably the U16s in 2021 — he has yet to play an official match at any level. This means a switch to Nigeria would be smooth, requiring no FIFA clearance.

The left-footed striker is known for his acceleration, strength, and eye for goal. Since joining Monaco from Royal Antwerp, he has scored six goals and contributed two assists across 29 appearances in all competitions — including two goals in six UEFA Champions League outings.

Despite the growing excitement around Ilenikhena, Chelle is under no pressure to rush him into the squad.

The Super Eagles already boast a strong forward line led by Victor Osimhen, who has been excellent for Galatasaray and Nigeria since he moved to Turkey from Napoli.

At 26, Osimhen remains in his prime and is the Super Eagles' undisputed first-choice striker.

Behind him, there is solid depth. Terem Moffi (OGC Nice), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Umar Sadiq (Valencia), Cyriel Dessers (Rangers), and Tolu Arokodare (Genk) are all vying for minutes and goals.

Still, Ilenikhena could be a valuable long-term asset. His youth and European pedigree make him an appealing option as Nigeria build toward the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Whether he gets his first call-up for the Unity Cup in May remains to be seen, but Chelle’s visit to Monaco sends a strong message: the future of Nigerian football may well run through players like George Ilenikhena.