Super Eagles vs Tanzania: Why Udeze believes NFF made a costly Chelle mistake

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has come under fire from former Nigeria defender Ifeanyi Udeze over his decision to take charge of both the senior national team and the Olympic Eagles.

Chelle faces a difficult situation in November, with both teams scheduled to play their qualifiers on November 13 and 17.

The three-time African champions will host Tanzania in Uyo on November 13 in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before travelling to Dar es Salaam for the return leg four days later.

The Olympic Eagles will face DR Congo on the same dates, travelling to Lubumbashi for the first leg before hosting the Congolese side in Ikenne, Ogun State, on November 17.

With the matches taking place in different cities on the same days, Chelle cannot be on the touchline for both teams. The situation has renewed questions about the NFF’s decision to put him in charge of two national sides.

Super Eagles: Udeze says NFF ignored his warning

Speaking to New Telegraph, Udeze said he had warned against the arrangement from the beginning but was ignored.

“I said from the beginning that for me it is a distraction for Eric Chelle to handle the Super Eagles and also the U-23 team,” Udeze said.

“Some people opposed me and said there is nothing wrong with it. I made reference to it then, that what if the two teams are playing the same day and everything now comes to pass.”

Udeze said the clash could leave Chelle struggling to focus on both squads, particularly when making selection decisions.

“Super Eagles will be playing Tanzania and the U-23 taking on DR Congo; will Chelle split himself into two? It is a problem because I know he will be having some kind of selection issues by now, thinking about the Super Eagles, also thinking about the U-23 Eagles as well. So it’s not going to be easy for him.”

Another former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje had earlier knocked the NFF decision to hand Eric Chelle the reins of both the Super Eagles and the Olympics Eagles.

The Super Eagles have little room for error after their 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau earlier in the qualifying campaign. They will be under pressure to take maximum points from Tanzania.

Can Chelle’s assistants solve the problem?

Chelle, who already has several issues to fix in the Super Eagles, has appointed Bright Osehai Ozebagbe and Deniran Ortega to assist the Olympic Eagles during their qualifiers against DR Congo.

He also has Daniel Ogunmodede, Fidelis Ilechukwu, and other assistants working with the Super Eagles.

Their presence means both teams can continue training even when Chelle is with the other squad. However, his absence could still affect preparations, tactical decisions and match-day management.

The NFF will hope the coaching staff can handle the situation without disrupting either team’s campaign. But with both sides facing important qualifiers, the concerns raised about Chelle’s workload are unlikely to disappear before the November fixtures.