Nigeria Super Eagles B coach Eric Chelle has defended his player selection for the African Nations Championship in Zanzibar, insisting the squad represented the best talent from the Nigeria Premier Football League despite a crushing 4-0 loss to Sudan.
Speaking after the defeat, which sealed Nigeria’s early exit from the tournament, the Franco-Malian coach maintained that his choices were based purely on merit.
“Even if the outcome was disappointing, the squad was chosen to represent the best of the league,” Chelle said, adding that the final lineup differed from his initial plan due to player departures.
“Maybe five players left camp or never came at all. They went to play in another league. But for me, it was still the best the league had to offer,” he explained.
Sudan took a 2-0 lead before halftime and added two more goals in the second half, with Yagoub Omer netting twice. Defensive errors proved costly, and Nigeria ended bottom of Group D.
Chelle admitted that while the team started well, mistakes determined the outcome.
“We cannot play games like that and lose because of so many errors. The first goal against Senegal was a mistake; in this game, the first two goals were mistakes, and the other two came from poor positioning,” he said.
He acknowledged the high demands of the competition, urging the team to stay more focused. Nigeria’s final group match against Congo will now be a formality.
