Eric Chelle has stood by his selection of a 23-man squad for this year’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), which primarily features players from the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Remo Stars. Out of the selected players, seven are from Remo Stars, which has sparked some criticism. However, Chelle justified his choice, highlighting that this approach is common among successful teams. “Look at Morocco, many of their players come from Raja and Wydad; Angola features mostly players from their top team, and South Africa has eight players from a single club,” Chelle explained to the media team. Additionally, the Home-Based Super Eagles star, Adelani, expressed their commitment to winning CHAN. “This isn’t due to my assistant’s background with Remo Stars; rather, it stems from my belief that I prefer to maintain possession of the ball.” When we lose possession, I want us to apply pressure to the opposing team. I need to recruit players who align with my philosophy. Although there are many talented players out there, it’s important for me to choose those who can make impactful decisions during the game, as this is my profession. I also want to develop something featuring these players. However, the reality is that our team boasts the top players. In the meantime, the Super Eagles playing at home had to settle for a 2-2 tie against Zanzibar on Thursday, during their second test match. The initial match concluded with a score of 0-0. Chelle’s team is set to start their season on August 5 against the reigning champions, Senegal. They will go up against Sudan on August 12, and will conclude the group phase with a matchup against Congo on August 19. Reported by James Agberebi.
