Three months after his appointment, Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, will oversee his first game today as the Super Eagles resume their World Cup qualifying campaign against the Wasps of Rwanda in Kigali. The team will face the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Uyo a few days later. GOWON AKPODONOR looks at some of the challenges before Chelle, particularly his first squad selection and tactical approach against Rwanda in the battle of Kigali.

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Before the appointment of the late Coach Stephen Keshi as manager of the Hawks of Togo, he was seen as a mere talker, a brawler and a politician within African football circle. But Keshi?s reign in Togo saw the tiny West African country qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

Although Keshi left the Hawks before the World Cup, the experience that he gathered in Togo, as well as his two-year stay with the Eagles of Mali contributed to his overall mark as one of the most successful black African coaches of all time when he took charge of the Super Eagles.

He recorded some remarkable achievements, including winning the AFCON title in 2013 despite a frosty relationship with his employers.

He was one of only two people to win the AFCON title as a player and manager, and the only black African to coach in the knockout phase of a FIFA World Cup at Brazil 2014.

Before Keshi?s coaching career in West Africa, the former captain of the Green Eagles, Christian Chukwu and Enugu Rangers? star, Harrison Okagbue, had explored the East Africa region to different degrees of success.

While Chukwu handled the Harambee Stars of Kenya in 1998, Okagbue coached Uganda from 1999 to 2001. Another Nigerian, Emmanuel Amunike, led the Tanzanian national team to their first African Cup of Nations appearance in over 20 years in 2021. Thus, while Nigerians have had the opportunity to coach some other African countries, Chelle?s appointment is the first time that Nigeria is saddling an African with the task of handling the Super Eagles.

Expectedly, many, including some ex-internationals criticised Chelle?s appointment as Super Eagles coach for ?his limited experience and poor credential for the role.?

To them, the Franco-Malian tactician has no experience to handle the Super Eagles that is laced with star-studded players.

One association described his appointment as ?a slap in the face? of homegrown coaches. Now, this is the time for Chelle to answer his critics.

Chelle may not be in the class of elite World Cup winning coaches like Didier Deschamps of France, Luiz Felipe Scolari of Brazil, Marcello Lippi of Italy, Vicente del Bosque of Spain or Lionel Scaloni of Argentina, but he has some pedigree in African football. His coaching career began in France with GS Consolat (2014-2016) as an assistant manager. He went on to coach other French teams, including FC Martigues and Boulogne, before heading to Mali in 2022 as the national team coach.

Chelle?s spell as the head coach of the Eagles of Mali was eventful. Between 2022 and 2024, he played 21 matches with the West African team, won 13, drew five and lost three. He took the Eagles of Mali to the last Nations Cup in Cote d?Ivoire, where the team made it to the quarterfinals, losing narrowly to the eventual winner, the Elephants of Cote d?Ivoire 1-2.

His team also defeated the Super Eagles in an international friendly in Morocco in March 2024, when it was managed by Finidi George.

On the day he was unveiled in Abuja, Chelle promised to bring back attacking football into the Super Eagles.

?I have always had a love for scoring goals. My teams are never short of goals, and I promise the Super Eagles will be no different,? Chelle said. ?Football is about scoring goals and I favour an attacking style.

?I know the expectations of Nigerians and I will settle down and work diligently with assistants towards the goal of qualifying the Super Eagles to the 2026 World Cup. I do not take this appointment for granted. I am elated and will do my utmost best,? the coach stated.

Rwanda lead the group on goal difference, with South Africa and Benin also on seven points.

Beyond the coach?s promises, former Super Eagles goalkeeper, David Aigbovo, said that there are clear areas that Chelle must address if Nigeria must stand any chance of securing a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

?If Stephen Keshi could coach Togo and Mali, I see no reason why we can?t support a fellow African coach to succeed in Nigeria,? Aigbovo told The Guardian. ?Although I am one of the advocates of an indigenous coach for the Super Eagles, but I have discovered that some former Super Eagles? players, particularly those of 1994 set see themselves as owners of Nigerian football. As far as this set of ex-players are concerned, the Super Eagles? job belongs to them alone. It should not be so. That is why I am happy that the NFF gave the job to Eric Chelle, and we have to support him.?

Aigbovo, who was part of the IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan team that won the maiden CAF Cup title in 1992, said: ?At the moment, one area that I see as major weakness in the Super Eagles is its aging defense, and Chelle must act fast to strengthen the backline. He must fix it urgently for Nigeria to revive its faltering World Cup campaign because we can?t afford any margin of error in the remaining six matches.

Aigbovo stated that the Super Eagles have experimented with various formations in recent years before eventually settling for the 3-4-3 system.

?The key reason for these tactical adjustments has been to provide greater defensive cover and improve handling of transitions. It has not really helped us and Chelle has to sort out the defensive shape and personnel quickly,? he stated.

While setting the agenda for Coach Chelle, United States-based former Green Eagles player, Paul Okoku said: ?With Nigeria?s storied football legacy and the weight of expectations from millions of passionate fans, this match against Rwanda is more than just a test. It?s an opportunity to make a bold statement and a declaration of intent.

?Taking charge of the Super Eagles is an honour, but it comes with immense pressure. The team?s inconsistent performance in recent years has left fans yearning for stability, tactical discipline, and a return to dominance on the continental and global stage. This match against Rwanda presents the perfect opportunity to set the tone for a new era.?

Recalling a past encounter between the two countries, Okoku, who was vice captain of the first set of Flying Eagles, said: ?About 13 years ago, the Super Eagles faced Rwanda in a two-legged Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2012 under the leadership of the late Stephen Keshi. The first leg that took place on February 29, 2012, in Kigali, ended goalless. In the return leg on June 16, 2012, in Nigeria, the Super Eagles secured a 2-0 victory, reaffirming their status as one of Africa?s football giants. Notably, these matches marked Victor Moses? debut for the Nigerian national team, officially committing his international future to Nigeria over England.

?This time, we are facing Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier and Chelle must among other things, establish a tactical identity for the team.

?The Super Eagles have often relied on raw talent, but to compete at the highest level, there must be a clear tactical approach. Will the coach adopt an aggressive attacking style, a solid defensive structure, or a balanced approach? Defining this identity early will set expectations for both players and fans.

?Secondly, choosing the right squad is crucial. Veterans like Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, and Wilfred Ndidi bring leadership, while emerging talents such as Victor Boniface, Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf provide fresh energy. The coach must find the right mix to ensure cohesion, hunger, and adaptability. The Super Eagles have sometimes struggled with maintaining focus in crucial moments. The coach must instill a winning mentality, ensuring that lapses in concentration, costly errors, and indiscipline become a thing of the past. Also, matches are won, not just through preparation, but also through in-game adjustments. The ability to read the game, make timely substitutions, and shift formations when needed will be vital against a determined Rwandan side that is eager to cause an upset. In modern football, set-pieces are game-changers. The Super Eagles must improve the effectiveness of their corner kicks, free kicks, and defensive marking on set-pieces. These are areas that the Eagles have not fared well in the past. Beyond tactics, the new coach must ignite passion in the squad. Representing Nigeria comes with pride, and ensuring the players understand the importance of wearing the green and white jersey will be key to unlocking their full potential.?

Reiterating that the game against Rwanda is a must-win for Nigeria, Okoku said: ?Rwanda may not be a football powerhouse, but underestimating them would be a mistake. In qualifiers, every point matters, and dropping another could make the road to the World Cup more difficult. A strong finish in Kigali is non-negotiable.

?The nation is watching in anticipation. Through this pivotal clash, the new coach has a golden opportunity to win the hearts of the fans, silence the doubters, and usher in a new era of success. Will the Super Eagles soar or stumble? The battle of Kigali will give us the first answer.?

One die-hard fan of the Super Eagles, a former goalkeeper of Piedmot FC of Ologbo, Edo State, Sunny Edoreh, described the game against Rwanda as ?far from ordinary.

?This game embodies both urgency and moral conviction,? he told The Guardian. ?It will set the tone for the excitement, high expectations and strategic focus that the Super Eagles will need for the challenges ahead. This game is memorable and evokes a sense of responsibility for the team,? Edoreh said.

The Proprietor of Cable Football Academy, Coach Edwin Onovwotafe is more particular about Nigeria?s central defensive pairing of Semi Ajayi and William Troost-Ekong.

?Both of them are over 30, and have at times struggled with their pace of transition. While the three-man defence helps to mask this vulnerability, it comes at a cost. It effectively sacrifices an extra attacking option. I see Calvin Bassey as a strong and promising defender, but his eagerness to push forward can sometimes leave gaps at the back. There has to be a long-term solution as quickly as possible.

?This defensive setup is a key area Chelle must address if the Super Eagles must boost their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

?The way the Super Eagles defend set-pieces must be improved. The team has struggled with defensive organisation in set-piece situations in recent years, which some opponents have frequently exploited. Benin Republic capitalised on this weakness with a cleverly executed corner routine that caught Nigeria off guard, exposing a recurring flaw that the Eagles could continue to be punished by future opponents.

?In high stakes matches, such lapses can be the difference between securing a crucial result or falling short. Chelle and his coaching staff must urgently address this issue and implement a sustainable strategy to prevent opposition teams from taking advantage.

?There must be profile balance in our midfield. Complementary profiles are just as important as personnel in every area of the pitch, especially in the midfield because as the engine room of the team, the midfield provides a platform for the attack, while also shielding the defence,? Onovwotafe stated.

He continues: ?Between 1994 and 1998, the combination of Jay-Jay Okocha and Sunday Oliseh in the midfield paid off for the Super Eagles. I think Chelle has several options in midfield, but he must avoid the common pitfall of selecting players based on reputation rather than suitability. Every system demands specific roles in midfield, and finding the right balance is key to the team?s success.

?A well-structured midfield trio, for instance, might feature a ball progressor, a combative enforcer, and a creative playmaker. Whatever approach Chelle chooses, ensuring the profiles complement each other will be essential to the team?s effectiveness.?

On paper, the Super Eagles, who are languishing in the fifth position with three points in Group C is better than all the teams in the group (Rwanda, South Africa, Benin and Lesotho).

With six matches yet to be played in the World Cup qualifying campaign, there is still hope for Nigeria, considering the abundant talents in the team, including the reigning African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, and his predecessor, Victor Osimhen. (The Guardian)

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