Super Eagles’ coach, Eric Sekou Chelle has hinted that he will unleash another ‘surprise package’ on his team’s next opponent at this year’s ongoing Unity Cup in London, Sports247 reports.
Speaking against the backdrop of Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe in the competition’s opening match at Charlton Athletic FC’s home ground, The Valley, Chelle said he was impressed with what his array of rookies were able to achieve against The Warriors.
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While not singling out any of the lads for particular mention, the Franco-Malian tactician admitted he was surprised by the team’s performance, considering that most of the lads were playing together for the first time.
The former coach of Mali’s national team and MC Oran football club of Algeria further hinted that many of those who featured in Tuesday’s game justified their inclusion in the list of invitees and showed that they can even be counted on to feature in the main Nigerian squad.
With his eyes now fully set on Saturday’s final at the same venue, Chelle inferred that he may not roll out the same starting 11, considering that some of Nigeria’s Grade-A players are also in camp and were rested for the opening game in order to give the rookies their own opportunities to shine.
However, Chelle noted further that there’s a strong likelihood of the next clash being against perennial Unity Cup rivals, Jamaica, who dragged the Eagles into penalties’ shootout before Nigeria could win last year’s final at Brentford’s BTech Stadium also in London.
With that in mind, the gaffer is already thinking of tinkering his squad list for the final but, while keeping hid plans close to his chest, Chelle stressed that the enthusiasm of all the lads in camp has made it possible for him to roll out tactical surprises at will.
Chelle said, “I was truly surprised by the performance of the players against Zimbabwe. I was surprised, because they played as if they had been together for six months or one year.
“In reality, it was the first time, but they showed that we can always make surprises happen in the Unity Cup. We are now looking at the next opponent in the final.”
Sports247 gathered that there is a strong possibility that Wilfred Oyinyen Ndidi will captain the squad on Saturday, while Moses Simon and Jerome Akor Adams line out alongside new rave of the moment, Femi Azeez, in attack.
