Former Super Eagles forward warns Eric Chelle: Pick the best not favourites for CHAN glory

Former Super Eagles forward, Femi Opabunmi, has urged head coach Eric Chelle to avoid sentiment in his team selection as Nigeria prepares for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Opabunmi's remarks come after Chelle named his 23-man squad for the tournament, which will see Nigeria bidding to win its first-ever CHAN title.

The squad includes Remo Stars duo Sodiq Ismaila and Nduka Junior, as well as NPFL top scorer Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi, who recently featured for the senior national team in the Unity Cup.

Speaking to All Nigeria Soccer, the former Nigerian international emphasized the need for merit-based decisions when selecting the matchday squad.

"I don't want them to put sentiment in the selection of players. That's the most important thing," Opabunmi told allnigeriasoccer.com.

"When you pick the best in the league, they will give their best, so don't put sentiments in the selection of the team."

Opabunmi, who featured for Nigeria at the 2002 Fifa World Cup, also lauded the improving quality of the domestic league, noting the competitiveness and unpredictability of results as a sign of progress.

"Nigeria league is more interesting than before, now you can go away and win unlike before where you must win at home," he added.

Opabunmi concluded by encouraging Chelle to maintain professionalism and integrity throughout the tournament.

"What I would advise the coach is that he should do the right thing at the right time and he should not put sentiments in his job."

Nigeria, bronze medallists at the 2014 edition of the CHAN, are drawn in Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, Sudan and Congo.

The Super Eagles will begin their campaign at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar, where they will face Senegal and Sudan, before travelling to Dar es Salaam to take on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Adeyemi Adewale

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