Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has embarked on a European tour to meet with key players, including Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Moses Simon, as he prepares for his first game in charge.
The visit comes ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Chelle, who was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF last month, is keen to strengthen his relationship with the squad and ensure that his tactical plans are well communicated before the upcoming fixtures.
The 47-year-old will take charge of the three-time African champions for the first time when Nigeria faces Rwanda’s Amavubi next month.
His tour began in France, where he met with Nantes winger Moses Simon, before travelling to England to engage with Fulham’s Alex Iwobi and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi.
Eric Chelle watched Moses Simon play in France.
Chelle was in attendance at the Ligue 1 clash between Nantes and Brest at Stade de la Beaujoire on Friday night, watching as Simon played 68 minutes in a 2-0 defeat for his side.
Chelle also met up with Alex Iwobi.
Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle with Wilfred Ndidi.
Nigeria’s World Cup Hopes at Stake
Nigeria currently sits fifth in Group C, making the upcoming matches crucial to their World Cup ambitions.
With only the group winners securing an automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the Super Eagles must maximize points in their next games to avoid missing out on the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
Beyond Iwobi, Ndidi, and Simon, Chelle is expected to meet with other key Super Eagles stars across Europe as he finalizes his squad selection.
Super Eagles players before a match.
Once his European tour is complete, Chelle will return to Nigeria to finalize preparations with the home-based Super Eagles before announcing his squad for the qualifiers.
Nigeria will face Rwanda in Kigali before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo in the next round of qualifiers, where Chelle will be under pressure to deliver positive results.
