Former Super Eagles coach Chief Adeboye Onigbinde has urged newly appointed Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle to properly manage the nation’s wealth of footballing talent if he hopes to succeed.
Despite boasting some of Africa’s finest footballers, Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign has been disappointing.
The Super Eagles currently sit fifth in Group C, behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin, and Lesotho, with only the group winner earning automatic qualification.
Nigeria’s squad features Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi (England), Victor Boniface and Gift Orban (Germany), Chuba Akpom and Moses Simon (France), Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman (Italy), along with several other top talents across Europe.
However, results have not matched expectations, leaving Chelle with a tough challenge to turn things around.
Chelle’s Task: Rebuilding the Super Eagles
Following a period of instability under Finidi George and Augustine Eguavoen, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has placed its trust in Chelle to guide the Super Eagles to their first World Cup since 2018.
With South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin leading Group C on seven points, while Nigeria sits at just three points, Chelle must quickly find a winning formula to keep Nigeria’s World Cup hopes alive.