Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, is adamant to ward off moves by influential members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to impose players on him ahead of next month’s Unity Cup Invitational tourney.
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A source close to Chelle disclosed to The Guardian on Thursday morning that the French-born coach has stated clearly that he would not condone moves by some stakeholders to interfere in his selections for the tournament, even as NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, continue to warn that the coach be given free hand to pick his players.
An insider within the NFF also confirmed that top football stakeholders have been scheming to ensure their players get a call-up for the friendly
“The big news is that Chelle has vowed to turn down moves by some stakeholders to impose players on him ahead of the Unity Cup tourney,” a source told The Guardian in a phone conversation.
“He (Chelle) has vowed never to listen to anyone, irrespective of their position.
“You will not believe he said he is prepared to stick to his guns over who to invite for that tournament, even if it means losing his job.
“Chelle is a stubborn coach, and I think these stakeholders should brace up for Chelle’s surprises.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will trade tackles with Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as old foes, Black Stars of Ghana, at the 17,250-capacity Gtech Stadium, home ground of English Premier League side, Brentford.,
According to the organisers, the final signatures, seals and indentures for the competition, tagged Unity Cup, were sealed on May 10, paving the way for the clash of cultures in West London next month., 250-capacity Gtech Stadium.
The tournament kicks off with the first semifinal on May 27. Trinidad & Tobago will tackle Jamaica in the first-ever “Trini-Jam” on UK soil.
The following day, three-time African champions, Nigeria, will take on four-time African champions, Ghana, in the second semifinal, which will come with all the intrigues and elements of a 74-year rivalry between the two continental giants.
All four teams will return on May 31 for the grand finale, with the losers of the semifinal fixtures featuring in the third-place game, before the final to determine The Unity Cup 2025 champions.
