'Go one-on-one, don't come back' – Super Eagles duo praise Eric Chelle's high-intensity style

With the African Nations Championship (CHAN) set to kick off on August 2 in Zanzibar, Super Eagles B players Sola Adelani of Ikorodu City and Adedayo Olamilekan of Remo Stars have voiced their excitement and determination ahead of the continental tournament.

For Adelani, representing Nigeria is a lifelong ambition finally realized.

"It’s a dream come true playing for the Nigerian national team. The coach always says, ‘If you are not a warrior, you can’t play football.

"If you’re doing like a girl or a boy on the field, they’ll eat you. You must be like a lion.’"

Adelani praised the coach’s fearless philosophy, saying, "He talks to me Sola  If you have the ball, go one-on-one.

"Even though you lose the ball, it’s not a problem. Just go one-on-one, don’t come back.’ Even if you lose the ball, try and chase him back."

Confident in the team’s readiness, he added, "I know the boys are ready because for the past two or three weeks of training, even though we’re making some mistakes, the coach keeps reminding us that mistakes are part of football.

"We just have to improve more. I know once the competition starts, we are coming back stronger to meet the championship."

Olamilekan, who plays as a midfielder for Remo Stars, reflected on his difficult journey.

"When I was in the U17, I was dropped. At U23, I was dropped again. But I found myself here," he said.

He expressed gratitude for Coach Chelle’s belief in him, saying, "The coach had belief in me that I can do it. That’s why he put me on the final list. It was my performance at Remo Stars that earned me a spot.

"This coach is the biggest I’ve ever worked with. I’ve never met someone like him in my life. He wants it all—intensity, aggressiveness—he never settles."

On the team’s ambitions, he said, "We always have meetings about the CHAN. We don’t want to come second or third. We want to get the gold. That’s our target, and I definitely believe we’ll get it."

The Super Eagles B are currently in a second-phase training camp in Zanzibar, which runs from July 25 to 31, and includes friendlies against the Zanzibar senior national team.

Nigeria is drawn in Group D alongside Senegal, Sudan and Congo.

Wale Adejumo

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