Switzerland-based tactician , Coach Adedeji Adeyemi Anthony (Triple A) has thrown his support behind Super Eagles head coach, Eric Seko Chelle, while warning that critics and doubters are waiting for any opportunity to see him fail.
Speaking with Faith Akindele (Mr Stereo) on Crowther 88.5 FM’s sports programme titled ” Sport Gallery” Triple A submitted that Nigeria is lucky to have Chelle in charge of the national team. He urged the Malian tactician to approach every upcoming friendly match with utmost seriousness.
According to the coach, the forthcoming Unity Cup presents another opportunity for the Super Eagles to demonstrate their quality and defend the title in London, where Nigeria is expected to face either Zimbabwe, India or Jamaica. He stressed that the competition should not be treated as a mere exhibition tournament but as a platform to build a winning mentality within the squad.
Triple A also commended the Nigeria Football Federation for securing high-profile international friendlies against Portugal and Poland after the Unity Cup. He described the fixtures as valuable tests that will help measure the progress of the Super Eagles under Chelle.
The Swiss-based coach noted that both the players and technical crew must justify Chelle’s recent declaration that his ambition is to deliver success for Nigeria. He recalled Nigeria’s 4-0 defeat to Portugal during the tenure of former coach José Peseiro, insisting that the upcoming encounter offers an opportunity for the Super Eagles to make a strong statement and silence those questioning the team’s direction.
Looking ahead to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Triple A cautioned against underestimating Nigeria’s opponents despite being drawn alongside Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, and Madagascar.
He argued that there are no longer easy matches in African football, pointing to Tanzania’s spirited display against Nigeria at AFCON and Guinea-Bissau’s previous victory over the Super Eagles as evidence that every opponent deserves respect. He therefore called for thorough preparation and maximum concentration throughout the qualification campaign.
Triple A also backed Chelle’s decision to include seven home-based players in his plans, acknowledging concerns about the standard of the Nigeria Premier Football League. While agreeing that the league still has room for improvement, he maintained that it has made noticeable progress compared to a decade ago and expressed confidence that further development will continue in the years ahead.
The coach concluded by urging Nigerians to rally behind Chelle and the Super Eagles, insisting that unity and support will be crucial as the team prepares for a busy schedule of friendlies and AFCON qualification matches.
