By Damilola Oyebode
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has set his sights on further success after guiding Nigeria to victory in the Unity Cup Tournament, marking his first managerial title since taking charge of the national team five months ago.
Nigeria edged out Jamaica in a tense final at the Gtech Community Stadium in West London on Saturday, clinching the title via a penalty shootout following a hard-fought encounter.
“This is my first trophy as a coach. As a player, I won many trophies,” Chelle said after the match.
“I hope with this trophy I can bring to Nigeria another trophy.”
Chelle, who took over as head coach earlier this year, will now focus on preparing the team for a series of upcoming challenges.
Nigeria is set to compete in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco this December, along with the African Nations Championship (CHAN), both of which present key opportunities for more silverware.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are also intensifying preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with Chelle facing increasing pressure to deliver consistent results.
Next on the calendar is an international friendly against Russia, scheduled for Friday, June 6, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
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.
