Nigeria boss Eric Chelle tour Europe to rally Super Eagles for vital Rwanda and Zimbabwe clashes

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has embarked on a European tour to meet with key Nigerian internationals, including Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Moses Simon, as he fine-tunes preparations for his first competitive fixtures in charge, Soccernet.football reports.

With Nigeria sitting fifth in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers, Chelle is eager to establish strong relationships with his squad and communicate his tactical approach ahead of the pivotal matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

The Malian tactician kicked off his tour in France, where he met with Nantes winger Simon, before traveling to England for discussions with Fulham midfielder Iwobi and Leicester City’s Ndidi.

During these meetings, Chelle outlined his vision for the team, assessed the players’ fitness, and set expectations for the crucial encounters.

Head coach Éric Chelle and first assistant Hedi Taboubi visited some Super Eagles players ahead of the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers. #RoadToWorldCup2026 #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/fvHm1woBd7

— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) February 8, 2025

Nigeria’s qualifying campaign began on a shaky note, with back-to-back 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. These results have left the Super Eagles under pressure to secure maximum points in their upcoming fixtures to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Only the top team in each group will automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Chelle’s outreach extends beyond Iwobi, Ndidi, and Simon, with further meetings planned with other key Super Eagles stars across Europe. His proactive approach comes at a critical time, as Nigeria looks to regain momentum and avoid missing out on a second consecutive World Cup.

After completing his European tour, Chelle will return to Nigeria to oversee final preparations with the home-based players before naming his squad for the qualifiers.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed confidence in his leadership, believing that his hands-on engagement with the team will be instrumental in getting the Super Eagles back on track.

Nigeria will face Rwanda in Kigali before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo, with Chelle under pressure to deliver results that could define his tenure.