Head coach of the senior national team Eric Chelle recently made public his final list of 23 players who will represent the team in the upcoming world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle who will be in charge of the team for the first time when they play in the qualifiers made some very bold decisions in leaving out some players like captain of the team Ahmed Musa, midfield ace Frank Onyeka, top defender Gabriel Osho and red hot striker Cyriel Dessers.
He however made some controversial decisions in the list with the inclusion of Niger Tornadoes midfielder Papa Daniel, who hasn’t played a single minute of football in the Nigeria Premier Football League for five weeks.
A member of the CHAN Eagles, Papa has been out of the country for a while in search of a club abroad but to no avail with Czech Republic side Karvina and an unnamed second division side in Turkey. He is reportedly set for another trial with Egyptian giants Al-Ahly.
How he made it to the final list of players for the games is one decision that Chelle will need to explain when he faces the press before the first game against Rwanda, or his first home game at home to Zimbabwe.
It is the same situation for Kayode Bankole who was named among the three goalkeepers, despite playing second fiddle to the third choice goalkeeper of Benin Republic Serge Obasa. Like Papa he is also a member of the CHAN Eagles team but even with the team he is second choice behind Enyimba’s goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena.
Ironically his coach at Remo Stars Daniel Ogunmodede is among the assistants of Chelle and in charge of the CHAN Eagles team, where Bankole is second choice.
Chelle has some questions to answer on their inclusion for two crucial games, which could potentially decides Nigeria’s participation at the 2026 World Cup. One would have thought only the best available players will be picked.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
