The Nigeria Football Federation has called for an emergency meeting with Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle in Abuja following the national team's disappointing failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Urgent Reforms Demanded After World Cup Disappointment
Top NFF officials have summoned the Malian-born tactician to the capital city for what promises to be a crucial showdown discussion about the future direction of the national team. This decisive action comes after Nigeria suffered a painful defeat against DR Congo in the African playoff final, dashing hopes of World Cup participation.
The meeting agenda focuses heavily on implementing immediate reforms within the Super Eagles setup ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco. According to insider reports, federation officials are demanding significant changes to the squad composition and selection criteria.
Squad Overhaul and New Selection Standards
An official speaking anonymously revealed the federation's new strict stance on player selection. "There is an urgent need to reorganise the national team. We need younger and more committed players representing Nigeria," the official emphasized.
The NFF has established a clear new policy that only players demonstrating consistent form and regular playing time at their club levels will be considered for national team duty. This marks a significant shift from previous selection approaches that sometimes included players struggling for minutes with their European or domestic clubs.
"We can no longer continue with players who struggle for game time at their clubs. Anyone playing for the Super Eagles must be active and consistent at club level," the official stressed, highlighting the federation's determination to rebuild a competitive squad.
AFCON Preparations and Player Changes
Coach Chelle is scheduled to arrive in Abuja for the critical talks before the AFCON training camp opens on December 10. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament kicks off on December 23 in Morocco, giving the team limited preparation time.
The technical crew has already begun implementing changes, with reports indicating that three players - Tolu Arokodare, Olakunle Olusegun, and one other unnamed individual - have been dropped from the squad following their underwhelming performances during the World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, new faces are expected to receive call-ups, including Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, FC Volendam midfielder Gibson Yah, and Pisa FC's Ebenezer Akinsamiro. The team will also welcome back injured players Terem Moffi and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who have recovered from their fitness issues.
Nigeria enters the tournament seeking improvement after finishing as runners-up in the last edition, where they lost to host nation Ivory Coast in the final. Under Chelle's leadership, the Super Eagles secured second position behind South Africa in their CAF qualification group with 17 points.
The summoning of Coach Chelle represents the NFF's commitment to addressing the recent decline in Nigerian football fortunes, with fans eagerly awaiting positive changes ahead of the continental championship.
