Eric Chelle Questions NPFL Standards After Nationwide Talent Search

Nigeria’s senior men’s national team head coach, Eric Chelle, has reportedly raised concerns about the overall standard of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after attending several domestic league matches across the country.

The Malian tactician recently concluded a tour of NPFL venues as part of preparations for the upcoming Unity Cup tournament scheduled to take place in London. Chelle’s mission was to assess home-based players who could strengthen the national team ahead of the competition.

However, sources close to the coaching crew revealed that the former Mali national team manager was left underwhelmed by the quality of football displayed in a number of the matches he watched. Although he identified a few promising talents, Chelle is believed to have concluded that many players still need significant tactical and technical improvement before they can compete consistently at international level.

The coach reportedly expressed disappointment with the tempo, organisation, and overall quality of some NPFL fixtures, questioning whether the performances reflected the expected standards of Nigeria’s top-flight league.

According to insiders, Chelle believes that challenges linked to recruitment structures, coaching quality, and tactical discipline may be limiting the league’s competitiveness and player development.

Despite his concerns, the Super Eagles coach acknowledged that the NPFL still possesses several talented individuals capable of growing into top players with proper development and exposure.

Only a select number of home-based players are expected to make the final squad for the Unity Cup, particularly because Nigeria already boasts strong competition from foreign-based stars playing in elite leagues across Europe and Africa.

Among the standout performers under consideration is Joseph Arumala, the Ikorodu City striker who has enjoyed an impressive campaign in the NPFL, scoring 13 league goals this season. The former Nigeria U-17 forward has emerged as one of the brightest attacking prospects in the domestic league.

Reports suggest that Ikorodu City could have three representatives in the Unity Cup squad, while Enugu Rangers may contribute two players. Rivers United and Shooting Stars are also expected to provide one player each.

The invited home-based players have already arrived in Abuja for visa processing ahead of the team’s trip to the United Kingdom.

Chelle is expected to announce his final Super Eagles squad later this week after completing evaluations of both local and foreign-based players.

Nigeria will face Zimbabwe in the semi-final of the Unity Cup at The Valley on May 26, 2026. The winner will advance to the final on May 30, where they will meet either Jamaica or India.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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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