says proper age identification key to talents development, progression
By Faith Akindele
Swiss-based Nigerian football tactician, Coach Antony Adeyemi Adedeji, has commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for their strategic approach to sports development, particularly with the decision to extend the contract of Super Eagles head coach, Eric Seko Chelle and the expansion of his responsibilities.
Speaking on a Sport show titled “Sports Gallery “on Crowther 88.5 FM, Oyo, anchored by Faith Akindele ( popularly known as Mr. Stero ), Coach Adeyemi described the move as a positive step towards creating a sustainable football development structure that will strengthen the connection between Nigeria’s youth and senior national teams.
According to him, assigning Chelle the responsibility of overseeing both the Super Eagles and the Under-23 team will help create a seamless pathway for talented young players to progress into the senior national team.
“The Under-23 team is the closest level to the senior national team. This arrangement gives Eric Chelle the opportunity to identify, monitor and develop young talents who can eventually become key players for the Super Eagles,” Adeyemi stated.
While praising the initiative, the Switzerland-based coach identified age verification as one of the major challenges that must be addressed to ensure the success of the programme.
“The biggest challenge will be getting the actual ages of the young players. Proper age verification is essential if the development programme is to achieve its objectives and produce the desired results,” he noted.
Coach Adeyemi pointed out that the dual-role arrangement is not entirely new in Nigerian football, recalling similar structures that contributed to the country’s football successes during the 1990s.
He expressed confidence in Eric Chelle’s ability to handle the expanded duties effectively, citing the coach’s experience, competence and understanding of modern football development systems.
Adeyemi further explained that the model mirrors practices adopted in several European football nations, where senior national team coaches maintain close working relationships with youth teams to ensure continuity, smooth player transition and long-term success.
He concluded by applauding both the NFF and NSC for embracing a developmental approach that prioritises the future of Nigerian football and provides a clearer pathway for emerging talents to reach the highest level.
