Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has intensified Nigeria’s talent watch in France after making a personal trip to Marseille’s Orange Vélodrome for the club’s commanding Coupe de France victory over Rennes, footynaija.com reports.
While Marseille’s 3–0 win sealed a quarter-final place, the scoreline was only part of the story for the Nigerian coach.
Chelle’s main interest lay in two players with strong Super Eagles links, teenage attacker Ethan Nwaneri and newly recruited midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi, as he continues to map out Nigeria’s next generation.
Nwaneri, who joined Marseille on loan from Arsenal in January, remains one of Europe’s most exciting young prospects.
Born in North London to Nigerian parents, the 18-year-old is eligible for both England and Nigeria and already boasts an impressive scoring record across England’s youth teams, from Under-16 to Under-21 level.
His early days in France have only strengthened the buzz around him.
Nwaneri announced himself with a goal just 13 minutes into his Marseille debut against Lens and followed it up with another start in the cup tie against Rennes. He featured for the first half before being substituted after picking up a booking, delivering a composed showing that showed why Chelle is keeping him firmly on Nigeria’s radar.
Alongside Nwaneri, Chelle is also closely tracking Nnadi’s progress following the midfielder’s move from Belgian side Zulte Waregem. Although Nnadi missed the Rennes match due to registration issues, his arrival at Marseille marks a significant step in his career after signing a four-and-a-half-year deal.
Chelle already knows the 22-year-old well, having handed him his Super Eagles debut at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
After the match, the coach shared a moment with Nnadi on Instagram, welcoming him to his new club.
With Marseille preparing for a high-profile clash against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelle is expected to maintain his close watch, a clear sign that Nigeria’s European-based talent pipeline remains central to his long-term plans.
