2026 FIFA World Cup: I’m Fully In Charge — Chelle Declares

• Warns players against truancy, ‘Big boy’ attitude 
• Says ‘I choose who plays for the team’

Following their impressive and spirit-lifting performance in Kigali against the Amavubi (The Wasps) of Rwanda, Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, has reminded the players that he remains solely responsible for team selection at all times.

Coach Chelle, who opted for a heavily attacking starting XI in his first match in charge, says the choice of who features in the starting eleven rest with him and that arrangement should be respected by all concern, especially the players.

The match against Rwanda saw him deploying Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon in a formidable attack-minded formation that unsettled their hosts.

Also, in what appeared to be a variation of the Eagles’ well-known 4-2-4 formation, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi ran things from the midfield as the key men during Friday’s make or mar encounter.

In the process, other bright players like Victor Boniface, Umar Sadiq, and Raphael Onyedika were left warning the bench by the Sierra Leonean Coach.

In a post-match interview, the Super Eagles’ handler said: “It is my responsibility to set up the system. We tried two different systems in the team. We need to improve. It was the first game, and we are going back to work for the second game.”

According to him; “Every player in the team is capable of playing. We need to work together to achieve the goal of qualifying for the World Cup. We have great players.

“Today, the team performed well. My job is to make the decisions, decide on the system, and select the right personnel.”

With Osimhen’s brace in the match, the Super Eagles lifted themselves to fourth place on the Group C standing with six points garnered from five qualifying matches so far.