“It’s like an open trial” — Kenneth Omeruo tasks Super Eagles players under Eric Chelle

By Monsurah Olatunji

Kenneth Omeruo has welcomed the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, seeing it as a fresh opportunity for players—especially those who haven’t been playing regularly—to prove their worth.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently announced Chelle as the 37th coach of the Super Eagles, unveiling the 47-year-old former Mali international during a brief ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Chelle brings substantial coaching experience from his time at clubs like GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran.

Omeruo, one of the longest-serving members of the Super Eagles, shared his thoughts during a live session on his X handle, co-hosted with his teammate Wilfred Ndidi.

Reflecting on the future of the national team under Chelle, Omeruo emphasized the importance of players stepping up and taking their chances.

“Everyone has to be serious now; it’s like an open trial,” Omeruo said. “Some of us haven’t been playing regularly, so we need to prove to the manager that we deserve a spot in the team if selected.”

Omeruo also praised Chelle’s coaching credentials, pointing to Mali’s impressive performances at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as evidence of his ability to instill structure and organization in a team.

“Judging from the way the Malian team played, not just in friendlies but also at AFCON, you can see an organized structure,” Omeruo noted. “I believe Coach Chelle has something to offer the team. With the talent we have in the Super Eagles, he should have no trouble getting us to play the way he envisions.”

With Chelle now at the helm, Omeruo’s message to his fellow players is clear: this is a pivotal moment to prove themselves and earn their place in the Super Eagles lineup.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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