Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle Reveals Key Criteria For National Team Selection

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has outlined major conditions Nigerian players must meet to earn a call-up to the national team.

Since he was appointed Super Eagles head coach in January 2025, Eric Chelle has faced growing scrutiny over some of his selections, with critics questioning the omission of certain in-form players.

“First of all, you need to have playing time,” Chelle said in an interview with Onze Mondial. “You need to be in top physical shape and you need to be good too.”

He emphasised that performance on the pitch is just one piece of the puzzle. For Chelle, a holistic assessment determines whether a player is fit to wear the green and white.

“Then, the last thing is tactically. Physically, the player has to be in shape. He also has to be tactically intelligent to be ready to understand and apply my instructions,” he added.

Chelle also stressed the importance of mental fortitude and technical ability: “You also need good technical quality. And finally, you have to be mentally ready.”

His comments come as Nigeria gears up for crucial fixtures in the coming months especially in September. In the said month, the Super Eagles will face Rwanda, and South Africa in a must-win 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Note that the Super Eagles are currently sitting in the 4th spot of the World Cup qualifiers (Group C) with 8 points, five points above first-placed South Africa.