Austin Eguavoen, technical director of the Nigerian Football Federation, said the Super Eagles’ new head coach Eric Chelle has the final say in the final teams in Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
On Tuesday, March 11, the Mali manager unveiled his last 23 players in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The roster retained key players such as Stanley Nwabali, William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen to compete in the must-win match.
Nigeria will face Group C leader Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, March 21, and then four days later, on March 25, four days later, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in UYO.
Eguavoen, the team’s interim coach before Chel’s appointment, said the coach took the time to prepare the roster himself.
“I want Nigerians to be clear about something, I’ve been technical director for a few years, I’ve been in FIFA workshops, where I often ask questions and they make it clear to me that senior national team coaches anywhere in the world have final decisions about the people he wants on the roster,” Eguavoen said during Supersport’s football match Monday night.
“We can interact, we can’t intervene. If he says no, then no. That’s why they can fire senior national coaches at any time. So, I’d say Eric Chelle took some time to prepare this roster and he has the final say.”
Victor Ikpeba, another member of the Technical Committee and former International Committee, also added: “This young man (Chelle) has about 45 to 50 layers of Nigeria abroad. So it’s his discretion and he has been monitoring these players on the interim roster. He knows his 23, 24 or 25 players, which is his choice. So, there is no interference.”
