Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has described new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle as a demanding tactician who expects full commitment from his players. The Napoli forward shared details of his conversation with the new gaffer, revealing that Chelle has challenged him and other senior players to work closely with him to achieve success for Nigeria.
“What he said to me was, ‘Victor, listen, you and other guys that I’ve called, I need you to come hand in hand with me to work and achieve amazing things for Nigeria. I think you have the quality to do it. But any player who doesn’t fight for every ball and who doesn’t run will not play,’” Osimhen said.
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The striker also noted that Chelle made it clear he could be a mentor off the pitch but would remain firm and professional during matches. “He told me, ‘I can be a father, a big brother, or an uncle to everyone. But on the pitch, this is business.’ He emphasized that he might scream or push us hard, but it’s all for the good of the team,” Osimhen added.
Osimhen believes that Chelle’s approach will push the squad to greater heights. “To achieve something great, you have to give everything. Nigeria is a big country with millions of players, so if you’re privileged to wear the Super Eagles jersey, you have to fight for it. I think we’ve got a very demanding coach, and that’s exactly what we need,” he concluded.
With the Super Eagles preparing for their upcoming fixtures, all eyes will be on how the players respond to Chelle’s leadership and tactical demands.
