Eric Chelle has made talent discovery a personal mission with the Super Eagles, insisting his work does not stop with the players already established in Nigeria’s senior squad, Footynaija reports.
The Franco-Malian coach has continued to search for fresh options such as Benjamin Fredrick, Moses Usor, George Ilenikhena and Abdullahi Bewene, a policy that has already helped introduce several unfamiliar faces into the national-team picture. Bewene, for example, earned his senior debut against Poland in June after receiving a late call-up and starting at right-back.
Chelle’s latest explanation came after Nigeria fought back from an early deficit to beat Madagascar 2-1 in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Ilenikhena and Usor, both making their senior debuts, scored the goals that overturned Madagascar’s 16th-minute opener.
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“This is a part of my job, this is in my contract so I have to do it. When I speak with my players I tell them every time the love I have for this national team,” Chelle said.
“There’s a lot of good generation in the country and I have to continue, even if I stay one year, two years, three years. I cannot leave and do nothing.”
The scale of that task is enormous. Chelle previously revealed that Nigeria’s technical team tracks hundreds of eligible players worldwide, with about 80 players assessed each week.
“I try to do my job, I try to scout all the players that this country has. It is very difficult because we have maybe 800 players in the world, so sometimes it is difficult for me to find a good player,” he said.
“And now I have the U23 team so I have to find some good players for that national team, so I just do my job.”
That expanded responsibility gives Chelle an even wider talent pool to search, with Nigeria’s U23 side also preparing for the 2028 Olympic qualification cycle.
