5 problems Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles must fix before AFCON 2027

Eric Chelle and Nigeria Super Eagles’ next competitive chapter starts with a warning attached, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles open their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign against Madagascar on September 23 before travelling to Guinea-Bissau four days later.

Undoubtedly, Chelle’s primary target would be to collect six points from those first two games. However, more than that, the games against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau present the first serious chance for the Super Eagles coach to prove that his team has learned from the mistakes that cost it a place at the 2026 World Cup.

Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign was damaged early. Three 1-1 draws against Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa, followed by a 2-1 defeat by Benin, left the Super Eagles chasing the group. That poor start eventually proved costly. Nigeria later finished second in Group C and lost to DR Congo on penalties in the CAF play-off final.

There were also warning signs inside individual matches. Zimbabwe scored in the 90th minute to take a point from Nigeria in Uyo after Victor Osimhen had put the hosts ahead in the 74th minute. Against South Africa in Bloemfontein, Nigeria fell behind through a William Troost-Ekong own goal before Calvin Bassey equalised in the 44th minute. These were points Nigeria could not afford to drop.

Chelle now has a clearer target. AFCON 2027 will be played in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027, with Nigeria drawn alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau in Group L. Tanzania’s automatic qualification as a co-host means only the highest-ranked team outside Tanzania will advance from the group. Nigeria therefore have very little room for careless results.

What Super Eagles issues must Chelle fix?

Fix the defensive organisation

Nigeria cannot keep giving opponents cheap routes back into matches. The Zimbabwe game was the clearest example: Nigeria led 1-0 until the 90th minute, yet Tawanda Chirewa found the late equaliser. Against DR Congo in the World Cup play-off, Nigeria also conceded after failing to deal with Cedric Bakambu’s deep cross, allowing Meschack Elia to score in the 32nd minute.

Chelle needs clearer rules when Nigeria lose the ball. Centre-backs must know who steps out, full-backs must know when to stay home and the midfield must protect the space in front of the defence. Calvin Bassey’s consistency gives Nigeria a useful starting point, but the structure around him has to be settled.

Control midfield instead of playing in bursts

Nigeria have talented attackers, but they cannot depend on moments from Osimhen, Lookman or Chukwueze to solve every match. The midfield must decide where the game is played.

Chelle experimented with a 3-5-2 against Egypt in December 2025, and Nigeria controlled the opening 15 minutes before Egypt’s counterattacks changed the pattern. That game offered a useful lesson that possession is valuable only when the midfield can protect the team after losing the ball.

Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi and the other midfield options need clearly defined jobs. Nigeria need one player capable of setting the rhythm, another who can cover ground and a third who can move the ball forward quickly.

Create more chances instead of waiting for individual brilliance

Nigeria’s World Cup campaign produced too many tight matches. The 1-1 draws with Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa are evidence of a team that often needed one moment to change the result.

The solution is not simply to add another striker. Nigeria need better movement around the penalty area, more runners from midfield and quicker combinations in wide areas.

The 1-0 victory over Rwanda in September 2025 showed the value of persistence. Tolu Arokodare scored in the 51st minute after Nigeria had started aggressively and pushed Rwanda deep. That approach needs to become a repeatable plan rather than something Nigeria produce only when desperate for a goal.

Pick the squad on form and fit

Chelle has enough attacking options to make selection difficult. Osimhen remains the obvious focal point, but Arokodare, Paul Onuachu, Rafiu Durosinmi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Akor Adams give him different striker profiles. The same applies across midfield and defence.

The coach must select players according to what each match requires, not reputation alone. Nigeria’s 2025 AFCON campaign offered an example of useful rotation. Against Uganda, Chelle changed his team and started Onuachu, who scored in a 3-1 victory, while Raphael Onyedika scored twice.

A settled core is important, but so is having specialists on the bench. AFCON qualifying brings different opponents, surfaces, travel demands and match situations. Nigeria need a squad built for those problems.

Improve game management

This may be the most direct lesson from the World Cup failure. Nigeria had chances to turn draws into wins and leads into victories, but opponents repeatedly found ways back.

The Zimbabwe match should sit on the players’ minds. The Super Eagles also scored first against Benin Republic before falling to a 2-1 away loss.

Chelle needs a clear plan for the final 20 minutes. That means knowing when to slow the game, when to press, when to make substitutions and how many players should attack when Nigeria are protecting a lead.

The AFCON qualifiers offer six group matches across three international windows, beginning in September and ending in March 2027. Chelle therefore has time to build those habits. The real test is whether Nigeria’s next campaign looks calmer, smarter and harder to break when the pressure arrives.