Super Eagles: Eric Chelle’s glass cannon demands utmost efficiency for AFCON 2025 tilt

Off the back of the Super Eagles’ narrow 2-1 win over Tanzania on Tuesday night, two things are obvious. One is that, in concrete terms, Eric Chelle’s side played well and dominated their overmatched opposition, especially going forward. The other is that, if all of the same dynamics  and performance levels are maintained, it is unlikely the three-time African champions will be adding to their tally in Morocco.

Nigeria fashioned a number of chances against the Taifa Stars, and were so in the ascendancy that, by the time Semi Ajayi rose to head home the opener in the 36th, it had been a long time  coming. Victor Osimhen had already made a dog’s breakfast of a number of opportunities, as had Samuel Chukwueze, and Akor Adams had hit the woodwork. 

Regardless, there had been a sense of  calm amidst the frustration of wasted chances: in  the middle of the park, Alex Iwobi was purring, injecting zip into the Super Eagles’ attacks, and creating a constant stream of openings, while Ademola Lookman’s direct running had the East Africans furiously scrambling on several occasions. It was an important reminder: in terms of attacking stock, Chelle has at his disposal some of the finest artillery on the continent.

Defensive transitions a headache for Super Eagles

And yet, when Charles M’Mbombwa stole in five minutes after the restart to level, there was no real surprise. Not for anyone who had been paying attention. Because, for all that this team has verve going forward, it is also possessed of a permeable underbelly. Worsening matters is that this weakness falls into two different baskets: there is both a structural and personnel element, and while there are fixes for both, those remedies are not foolproof.

Much has been made of Chelle’s diamond in midfield – its inherent benefits and drawbacks debated in equal measure. What is clear, however, is that the Malian’s interpretation of it lacks some of the more obvious fail-safes that make that structure workable, especially without the ball.

In a typical animation of this shape, the width comes from the full-backs, while the outside midfielders act more circumspectly in order to defend the space left behind. Not so with the Super Eagles; Iwobi would probably be disciplined enough to execute that brief if he was handed it, but in no world is Chukwueze – a winger – suitable for the responsibility.

The result is that, in defensive transition, all Nigeria can rely on is the centre-back pairing and Wilfred Ndidi. In a tactical paradigm dominated by the five-man rest defence, is it any surprise, then, that this side, for all its menace, often looks incapable of resisting any sort of extended pressure?

This tactical shortfall is exacerbated by individual failings. Ajayi lacks the athleticism to defend that much space, and Ndidi is not the same force of old. There is a world in which a three-man breakwater could work (see Liverpool in their Jurgen Klopp-era pomp), but Calvin Bassey’s unfortunate inability to clone himself means that, unless some sort of concession is made, this vulnerability will remain a feature.

Football, however, is a sport defined by trade-offs. If Chelle is set on cramming as much attacking talent into the team as possible, then he must believe the upside to be worth it. If that is to be the case, then efficiency must be the one word that dominates the Super Eagles dressing room and training pitches over the next month.