'I'm ambitious and want to win' - Chelle reveals three key qualities every Super Eagles player needs

Eric Chelle, the newly appointed Super Eagles head coach, has emphasized that players must exhibit aggression, awareness, and technical sharpness to earn a call-up to the Nigerian national team.  

Speaking during his unveiling in Abuja on Monday, the Franco-Malian tactician stressed his preference for attacking football and the importance of a winning mentality in his squad selection process.  

"I know the expectation of the Nigerian people. I love attacking football, this is my philosophy. Football is about scoring goals. I am ambitious and I want to win."

He further emphasized that for a player to fit into his philosophy, they must demonstrate aggression and strong awareness.

"Before to talk scoring goals, you need to put in place a game project. Scoring goals is a state of mind. You need to be aggressive and aware, and technical you need to have a lot of balls but the most important is state mind and put in place the game project," Chelle stated.  

"The project is about work in offense and in defense. You need to put in place in different management and after that you need to put in place principal technique."

The coach explained that his tactical approach requires both offensive creativity and defensive discipline, highlighting the importance of pressing high up the pitch and regaining possession quickly.  

"You need to be aggressive and make lots of intensity and when you don’t have the ball you must go to take the ball in the half of the opponent,' he added.

"You must make a high pressure and after that when you have the ball you can finish quickly with a fast attack or take the ball and keep the ball, this is my game project."

His immediate focus will be guiding Nigeria through the challenging 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where the Super Eagles currently sit fifth in their group with three points, four points behind leaders Rwanda.  

Nigeria will resume their qualification campaign in March 2025, with crucial fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Chelle will be hoping to inspire a turnaround and restore the Super Eagles' hope of qualifying for the World Cup.

Adeyemi Adewale

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com