Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle and his assistant Hedi Taboubi have begun scouting key Nigerian players in Europe as preparations intensify for next month’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Chelle, who was appointed on January 7, started his European tour in England, meeting with Fulham’s Alex Iwobi and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi.
He also offered words of encouragement to Ndidi, who recently returned from injury.
The coach then traveled to France, where he watched Moses Simon in action during Nantes’ 2-0 home defeat, reinforcing his commitment to assessing his players’ form ahead of the qualifiers.
With Nigeria sitting fifth in their qualifying group—four points behind leaders Rwanda—the Super Eagles face must-win games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.
Chelle, expected in Nigeria next week, has made World Cup qualification his top priority. “We need to focus on winning these two games in March before thinking about AFCON,” he told Pooja Media.
The Eagles will regroup in September and October for their final four qualifiers, aiming to secure a spot in the global tournament co-hosted by the U.S, Mexico, and Canada.
