Inside Chelle’s European tour: How Nigeria’s coach is preparing for crucial qualifiers

• Chelle visited Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Moses Simon to assess their fitness and discuss tactical plans for the Rwanda and Zimbabwe matches
• Nigeria sits fifth in Group C after two disappointing draws, making the upcoming fixtures a must-win to stay in World Cup contention
• The Super Eagles' fate in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers could hinge on their performance in the upcoming March fixtures

With Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes hanging by a thread, newly appointed Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has wasted no time in taking decisive action. In preparation for the crucial qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March, Chelle has embarked on a European tour, visiting key players to strengthen team cohesion and communicate his tactical plans.

Chelle, along with his assistant Hedi Taboubi, has been meeting Super Eagles stars across Europe, including Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), and Moses Simon (Nantes). His primary objective is to assess player fitness, reinforce his vision for the team, and ensure everyone is aligned ahead of the high-stakes qualifiers.

The urgency of Chelle’s efforts stems from Nigeria’s disappointing start to the qualification campaign. The Super Eagles managed only a 1-1 draw against Lesotho in Uyo and another frustrating 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe. With Nigeria sitting fifth in Group C and only the group winners securing automatic qualification, the upcoming matches are must-win encounters.

During his European visit, Chelle first stopped in France to meet with Simon before travelling to England for discussions with Iwobi and Ndidi. His tour is expected to continue with engagements with other key Super Eagles stars, as he looks to solidify his squad selection.

The NFF has backed Chelle’s proactive approach, expressing confidence that his direct engagement with players will rejuvenate the squad and reignite their qualification campaign. His meetings have reportedly been well-received, with players welcoming the opportunity to understand his expectations and tactical approach ahead of the decisive fixtures.

Once his European tour concludes, Chelle will return to Nigeria to oversee final preparations, working closely with home-based Super Eagles players before announcing his squad. The spotlight will be on him as Nigeria faces Rwanda in Kigali before returning to Uyo for the clash against Zimbabwe.

With the weight of a nation’s expectations on his shoulders, Chelle’s first competitive games in charge could define Nigeria’s World Cup destiny. Can he steer the Super Eagles back on course, or will Nigeria miss out on the World Cup for a second consecutive time?

Osimhen’s Turkey future in doubt as Napoli rejects hefty first bid

Previously, TheRadar reported that Super Eagles Victor Osimhen's time at Galatasaray appeared to be winding down, with reports suggesting that the Turkish club had already begun preparing for his departure. 

The club had launched a massive €65 million bid for the 26-year-old on Wednesday, January 29. However, Napoli swiftly rejected the offer, insisting that any club interested in securing Osimhen’s services must trigger his €75 million release clause.