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Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has delivered a stark warning to striker Sikiru Alimi, insisting the forward must raise his game to compete with the likes of Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface for a place in Nigeria’s attack, footynaija.com reports.
Alimi impressed during Nigeria’s Unity Cup clash against Ghana, earning praise from fans and media alike.
But Chelle, speaking to UK-based Nigerian journalist Austin Okon Akpan in London, reminded the Remo Stars forward that one performance is not enough in a squad stacked with top-tier attacking options.
“If you want look an example, you take a guy like Alimi,” Chelle said. “He played well against Ghana, but the reality at his post, you have Osimhen, you have Boniface, Lookman, now Uche, Tolu (Arokodare).”
With competition fierce across all areas of the pitch, Chelle stressed that every player — regardless of reputation — must show consistent hunger and quality.
“So he needs to work hard, you know. It’s the same on the winger, and the reality is the same in the midfield, and the reality is the same in defence.”
While expressing a willingness to offer chances, Chelle underlined that selection will only be based on merit. “I can give them a chance, but the reality is they need to work hard. So if they want to work hard, I can give them a lot of chance.”
Alimi helped Remo Stars win the NPFL title for the first time in the club’s history.
