Eric Chelle says Super Eagles must embrace pressure ahead of Madagascar opener
Eric Chelle told reporters that pressure is an inherent part of his role as Super Eagles head coach, insisting the team will not try to avoid it but deal with it as their responsibility. He referenced Nigeria's poor start in the last World Cup qualifying campaign and said such a beginning will not repeat because the current squad is focused.
The coach stressed that the opening home match against Madagascar is vital for setting momentum and confidence for the rest of the qualifiers. Chelle described the Super Eagles as the best team in Africa, motivated by their potential world ranking, while acknowledging Madagascar as a tough opponent after their 2-0 win over Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
He also addressed the delayed arrival of Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, whose club asked him to attend an event, and noted the team is dealing with several injuries but believes the squad has enough depth to cope. Chelle challenged his players to show the intensity and mentality he expects when they face Madagascar. With the opener approaching, will Chelle's focus on mentality translate into a winning start for the Super Eagles?