Chelle targets wins in friendlies against Portugal and Poland

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has fired up his team ahead of Nigeria’s June friendlies against Poland and Portugal. He said they are going to Europe not just to play but to win. This is despite 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 asked about the upcoming matches against these World Cup 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."

Chelle recognized the strength of the teams they are facing. He called Poland "a good team" and praised Portugal, who have stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and João Neves. He said, "Portugal are maybe the best team in the world, so this is a great challenge for us."

Instead of seeing the absence of key players as a setback, Chelle is more focused on his ambitions. He said, "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 play these matches without Osimhen, Lookman, and standout Femi Azeez from the Unity Cup, among others.

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

According to the team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, 18 players arrived in Poland, but only 16 were able to train.

The players 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 the Super Eagles, they have gone 19 games unbeaten, scoring 37 goals and conceding 14. This includes a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

These friendlies against top European teams on their home ground are a big step up for the team, and Chelle wants to see how much progress they have made.