Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has firmly asserted that no one will impose players on him ahead of next month’s Unity Cup in London, Footynaija.com reports.
The French-born tactician, who took charge of the national team in January 2025, has made it clear that he will not tolerate interference from any official within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regarding player selection.
The Unity Cup, which is scheduled to take place in London, will see the Super Eagles face off against Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.
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Chelle, who previously managed Mali, is keen to use this competition to build a strong squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“The big news is that Chelle has vowed to turn down moves by some stakeholders to impose players on him ahead of the Unity Cup,” a source close to the coach revealed, per The Guardian.
“He has vowed never to listen to anyone, irrespective of their position. You will not believe he said he is prepared to stick to his guns over who to invite for that tournament, even if it means losing his job.”
Despite facing pressure from some NFF stakeholders to include certain players, Chelle remains adamant that his decisions will be made independently, based solely on merit and the players’ performances.
“I’m not willing to listen to anyone,” Chelle said.
“The NFF president gave me a clear mandate to pick my team independently. I alone will be held accountable for the results.”
As reported by Legit.ng, there is ongoing pressure by the NFF to influence squad selection, but Chelle’s firm stance has left many officials bracing for potential surprises when he announces his final list for the Unity Cup.
