Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has revealed why he included two local players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in his final 23-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Recall that Chelle recently selected Remo Stars goalkeeper Kayode Bankole and Niger Tornadoes midfielder Papa Daniel for the squad.
Before making his decision, Chelle watched several games in the domestic league.
At a pre-match press conference ahead of Nigeria’s tie with Zimbabwe, Chelle explained that he chose the duo because they have the potential to contribute to the team in the future.
“My job is to analyze all Nigerian players worldwide.
“With the World Cup qualifiers, CHAN, and AFCON upcoming, we need to work together.
“I believe there are many players who can work together and bring value to our national team.
“However, they need to understand how I want the team to play.
“This is why I selected two players from the NPFL, Daniel and Bankole. I think they are talented and have a bright future ahead.
“We need to work with them now to prepare for the future. As I said in my first press conference, time is the enemy of a coach,” Chelle said.