Femi Azeez reveals 48-hour positional overhaul behind historic Super Eagles debut brace against Zimbabwe

Femi Azeez had never played as an attacking midfielder in his professional career before Eric Chelle asked him to do exactly that against Zimbabwe. Within 48 hours of targeted training work in London, the 24-year-old Millwall forward was repositioned centrally and went on to score twice in Nigeria’s 2-0 Unity Cup semi-final victory at The Valley on 27 May 2026.

The England Championship winger, who accumulated 17 goal contributions for Millwall during the 2025/26 season operating primarily from the right flank, was deployed in a hybrid central role by Chelle. The Super Eagles head coach alternated between a 4-4-2 diamond and a 4-2-3-1 system across two three-hour training sessions, positioning Azeez in close partnership with captain Terem Moffi.

Speaking in a video that circulated widely on X, formerly Twitter, Azeez explained the abrupt tactical adjustment in his own words: “You know, I’ve never played that position before, but I have had a couple of days of training there and I have really enjoyed it. The coaching staff have really helped me feel my way into the role and once I touched the ball, I got comfortable, I was aware of my surroundings and I was able to show what I can do really. So, I enjoyed it a lot.”

The results were immediate and historic. Azeez opened his international account after just five minutes of play before converting a square pass from Moffi in the second half, completing a debut brace that shattered a 55-year Nigerian international scoring record. Pulse Sports Nigeria reported the details of the positional experiment as they emerged from camp.

Chelle, reflecting on how seamlessly his squad adapted despite the structural changes, acknowledged being caught off guard by the cohesion on display: “I was happy because they played well. I was surprised because it seemed as though they had been playing together for six months or one year. The reality is that it was the first time.”

Nevertheless, the Malian-born coach did not allow the milestone performance to pass without scrutiny. Chelle publicly noted that Azeez surrendered possession too frequently during transitional phases and identified retention of the ball as an area requiring significant improvement. The head coach’s assessment carries added weight given that Azeez would need to displace established names such as Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman to earn a place in the senior squad for Nigeria’s upcoming June fixtures against Poland and Portugal.

Chelle’s tactical experimentation ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations reflects a broader attempt to expand Nigeria’s attacking options and develop contingency systems beyond the first-choice XI. The Unity Cup, a pre-AFCON invitational tournament, has served as a platform for fringe players to press their cases for inclusion in more competitive squads.

With the Unity Cup final scheduled for this Saturday at The Valley, Azeez enters the match as one of the tournament’s standout performers. Whether Chelle elects to keep him in the central role or return him to the right flank, the debutant’s display against Zimbabwe has ensured his name will feature prominently in selection discussions in the weeks ahead.