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# Chelle outlines long-term plan after watching Flying Eagles reach WAFU B semi-finals
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle says his decision to watch Nigeria’s Flying Eagles defeat Togo was part of a wider plan to strengthen the country’s senior national team by identifying the best young players before they move abroad.
The 48-year-old travelled to Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, where he watched the defending champions beat Togo 3-0 at the Lycee Scientifique Stadium on Friday.
The victory was Nigeria’s second in Group B and secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship.
Chelle said he was not present merely to support the team from the stands. The former Mali coach explained that following the progress of Nigeria’s young players was an important part of his long-term vision for the country’s football.
His visit coincided with another impressive performance from Sporting Supreme striker Abdulmuiz Adeleke. The 17-year-old scored twice in the second half against Togo, having already claimed a brace in Nigeria’s 4-2 opening-match victory over Ghana’s Black Satellites.
Adeleke was named the official Man of the Match, with the award presented by the vice president of the Burkinabe Football Federation.
The striker’s displays have further increased interest in his future. He has already trained with Chelsea and French sister club Strasbourg, and is expected to complete a move after turning 18 next year.
Former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana was also at the match. Olofinjana is now Chelsea’s African talent manager and is responsible for monitoring emerging players across the continent for both Chelsea and Strasbourg.
Although Nigeria eventually secured a convincing win, Chelle said the match had been difficult before half-time because Togo were able to retain possession effectively.
He praised Flying Eagles coach Abdu Maikaba for changing the course of the game after the interval by instructing his players to press higher up the pitch.
Chelle said the more aggressive approach disrupted Togo’s build-up play, forced them into errors and helped Nigeria create the opportunities that led to all three goals.
The Super Eagles boss said he was pleased with the performance and hoped to attend Nigeria’s next match in the competition.
Chelle has already spent time with the Flying Eagles during their preparations in Abuja and said he regards himself as a strong supporter of the team.
He also underlined the importance of Nigeria’s Under-17 and Under-20 sides to his plans for the future. In his view, developing competitive youth teams is an essential foundation for producing a successful senior national side.
One of his key priorities, he added, is to identify talented players at an early stage and place them in the national team’s scouting database before they leave Nigeria.
The Flying Eagles, who are the defending WAFU B U-20 champions, could meet either hosts Cote d’Ivoire or Niger Republic in the semi-finals. Their progress has also given Chelle the opportunity to assess a group of players he hopes can contribute to Nigerian football in the years ahead.