Super Eagles: Impact, challenges Osimhen, Lookman, other key players face under Eric Chelle

Some key Super Eagles players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Ola Aina are set to feature for Nigeria’s national team under new head coach Eric Chelle.

Osimhen, Lookman and Aina are expected to play under Chelle for the first time since the Franco-Malian tactician was appointed manager of the Super Eagles a few weeks ago.

Recall that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, appointed Chelle in January to replace Augustine Eguavoen.

The 47-year-old’s first official games will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda on Friday and Zimbabwe next week Tuesday.

Chelle has since released his final 23-man squad that includes Osimhen, Lookman and Aina to tackle Rwanda and Zimbabwe, respectively.

DAILY POST reports that Osimhen, Lookman and Aina have been exceptional for their clubs so far this season.

Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has scored 26 goals and provided five assists in 30 appearances across all competitions for the Turkish Super Lig giants.

Lookman, on his part, has netted 19 goals and provided seven assists in 31 appearance across all competitions for Atalanta.

Aina, meanwhile, has scored 2 goals and provided one assist in 33 appearances across all competitions for Nottingham Forest.

Ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, DAILY POST takes a look at the impact the key Super Eagles stars could have in Chelle’s team.

DAILY POST also takes a look at the possible challenges they could face under the former Malian coach as the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers will be the first time they would be playing under Chelle.

Speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, Saheed Afolabi, who works at Clear TV, insisted that the likes of Osimhen and Lookman will have huge impact on Chelle’s side due to their current forms at club sides.

“Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman will have a huge impact on the Super Eagles under Chelle in the World Cup qualifiers because they are in good form and if you look at their recent statistics for their clubs, you will see that they are in very good shape,” Afolabi told DAILY POST.

“If you take a look at all the attackers invited by Chelle generally, you see Tolu Arokodare, Victor Boniface, you will see that Super Eagles strikers are in the best shape going into these games and it’s just a matter of time if they get their chances.

“But my major problem is the midfielders getting themselves together. Take a look at some previous matches in the European league where the Super Eagles midfielders ply their trade.

“I don’t know how many of them can boast of at least five assists for the whole of February. Let’s say January and February together. I don’t think any of them can boast.

“So my major problem is not even the striking force but the midfielders and I hope that they can just get their best in good shape and supply the strikers with the passes they needed to get the job done,” he stated.

Do you think these key players can bring their current form at club level to the Super Eagles under Chelle?

Afolabi continued, “For the key players bringing their current form to the team is actually possible but it’s a different football game from club level to national team level.

“I hope and I believe that their current form will be a key to the Super Eagles’ success in the two World Cup qualifiers.”

When asked for any potential challenges Super Eagles key players could face in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Afolabi said, “The potential challenges for me would be the coach’s tactics. You know a new coach taking on a new team, he is going to bring his own philosophy, style of play and his tactics.

“The players would be new to it and also I would have preferred it if they had played a friendly game before this crucial World Cup qualifiers, unfortunately there is nothing like that in place and they are left to play with the coach’s new tactics.

“I just hope they quickly adapt with the few time they will train together.

“The chemistry of both the strikers, midfielders and defenders should be key and the communication between the defenders and the goalkeeper should be very vital to see a win in the double-header qualifying games.”

Super Eagles: Impact, challenges Osimhen, Lookman, other key players face under Eric Chelle