Chelle targets wins in friendlies against Portugal and Poland

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has sent a strong message ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming friendlies against Poland and Portugal. He emphasized that his team will not just show up in Europe but will aim to win, even though they are missing some key players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, according to The PUNCH.

Chelle, who led the Super Eagles to victory in the Unity Cup against Jamaica in London, made his goals clear when discussing the upcoming matches against these World Cup-bound teams.

"No, we go definitely to make a fight, to make a war," Chelle told the NFF media.

"If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. But if we lose, they have to work on us. They have to beat us, beat us to win these two games."

The Franco-Malian coach recognized the strength of the teams they are facing. He called Poland "a good team" and praised Portugal, which features Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and João Neves. Chelle said, "Portugal are maybe the best team in the world, so this is a great challenge for us."

Despite the absence of important players, Chelle remains ambitious. He stated, "I want to go in their country, in their own country, to beat them. Because I’m sad I don’t go to the World Cup, maybe it will be something very good for me."

Nigeria will take on these teams without Osimhen, Lookman, and Unity Cup star Femi Azeez, among others.

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi, along with Moses Simon and Akor Adams, joined the rest of the squad in Warsaw on Monday ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Poland.

Promise Efoghe, the team’s media officer, confirmed that 18 players arrived in Poland, but only 16 participated in the training session.

The players currently in camp include goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, and Arthur Okonkwo.

Ndidi, Simon, and Adams are joined by Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi, who captained the team in London, Tochukwu Nnadi, Emmanuel Fernandez, Semi Ajayi, Rafiu Durosinmi, Zaidu Sanusi, Igho Ogbu, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Abdullahi Ibrahim from Banik Ostrava.

Since Chelle took over as head coach, Nigeria has gone 19 matches without a loss. They have scored 37 goals and conceded 14 during this period, which includes a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

These friendlies against top European teams on their home turf mark an important challenge, and Chelle seems eager to see just how much his team has improved.