Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has shed light on the personal approach he takes to monitoring players in his Super Eagles squad, revealing that he makes a point of attending club matches and notifying players before doing so.
“Generally, I tell them. I tell them I am coming to watch the match,” Chelle told Algerian influencer Just Riadh. The Malian manager believes forewarning players of his attendance serves as a source of motivation, underlining a management style that prioritises direct observation over remote scouting alone.
One of the most recent instances of this approach came when Tochukwu Nnadi completed his transfer from Belgian side Zulte Waregem to Ligue 1 club Marseille. Chelle was among the 61,783 supporters at the Orange Vélodrome on February 3 when Marseille defeated Rennes 3-0 in a Coupe de France fixture. “The last one I went to see was Tochukwu Nnadi when he signed for Marseille. I wanted to be there because I don’t live far away. He came from Belgium and was arriving at a club like that, so for his first match, I wanted to be there,” Chelle explained.
Nnadi was not included in Marseille’s matchday squad for that fixture, as the game came too soon after his transfer was completed. According to reports, Chelle used the occasion to also cast an eye over Arsenal dual-national attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, who has been on the coach’s radar as a potential Super Eagles target.
Chelle also referenced an earlier scouting trip in November 2025, when Atalanta faced Marseille in the UEFA Champions League. Ademola Lookman, the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, featured for Atalanta in that match and was aware the Nigeria coach would be in attendance. “Lookman came for the Champions League match against Marseille with Atalanta, aware that I was coming to watch the match, though Eddie went to see him at the hotel,” Chelle stated. The Nigeria manager observed Lookman for 75 minutes before the forward was substituted for Yunus Musah. Atalanta won that encounter 1-0.
The hands-on scouting philosophy reflects the broader challenge Chelle faces in managing a squad largely composed of players based across Europe’s top leagues. Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a campaign Chelle has previously described as one defined by costly dropped points in key qualifying fixtures. With the Super Eagles now in a rebuilding phase ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying cycle, maintaining close relationships with eligible players — including dual-nationals who may choose Nigeria over other national teams — becomes an increasingly important function of the head coach’s role.
Lookman, who plays his club football for Atalanta in Serie A, has been a consistent performer at the highest level of European football and remains central to Nigeria’s attacking plans. Nnadi, meanwhile, will be looking to establish himself at Marseille following his move from Belgium. Chelle’s willingness to attend their matches in person signals that both players continue to hold prominent places in his squad considerations.
