Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has called for patience in judging Nigeria’s home-based players following the team’s impressive 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe in the semi-final of the Unity Cup on Tuesday night.
Nigeria booked their place in the next stage of the competition after a strong performance at The Valley in London, with a brace from Femi Azeez sealing the win over the Warriors of Zimbabwe.
Ahead of the tournament, Chelle included a number of players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in his squad as part of efforts to assess local talents and expose them to international football.
The home-based players invited for the competition include Michael Atata, Aderemi Adeoye, Tosin Oyedokun, Chibueze Oputa, Obinna Igbokwe and Elias Ochobi.
Speaking during his post-match interview, the Malian tactician explained that integrating domestic league players into the national team project would require time, training sessions and patience.
According to him, the transition from local football to international competition is not always easy, especially for players who may be experiencing football outside Nigeria or travelling to Europe for the first time.
Chelle admitted that the pressure and expectations could affect performances but stressed that such experiences are important for their development.
He said he does not want to rush the process and believes continuous exposure and proper guidance will help the players adapt better to the demands of international football.
The Super Eagles coach, however, expressed satisfaction with the attitude, commitment and performance shown by the home-based players against Zimbabwe.
Chelle added that while there is still work to be done, he was encouraged by what they displayed and remains optimistic about their future contribution to the national team.
