Former Nigerian international Sam Sodje has shared his thoughts following the release of the Super Eagles’ provisional squad by new head coach Eric Chelle ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Sodje stressed that international football demands selecting the best players based on form rather than reputation. He explained that while experience is valuable, current performance should be the primary factor in call-ups.
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“It’s international football. I don’t know if you’ve been there before, but the kind of players you invite are those who are in form. You can’t just call up someone because they’ve been part of the team before if they’re not performing,” Sodje stated.
He further noted that players who are excelling at club level deserve a chance, regardless of whether they have prior national team experience. According to him, every call-up presents an opportunity for players to prove themselves, and it is up to the coach to select those he believes will deliver results.
“If I’m performing well as a player, I expect to be invited, even if I haven’t been in the team before. The coach has made his decision, and we have to trust his judgment,” he added.
With Nigeria set to face crucial qualifiers, the focus will now be on how Chelle’s selections perform on the pitch.
