He's blocking someone - FA Cup winner faults Chelle for Musa, Iheanacho's inclusion

He's blocking someone - FA Cup winner faults Chelle for Musa, Iheanacho's inclusion

Hassan Abdulsalam 11:57 - 08.03.2025

Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle has faced criticism over his squad selection for the World Cup qualifiers

The head coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, Eric Chelle has come under fire for his squad selection ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

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The 39-man provisional squad, unveiled on Tuesday, features several established internationals and in-form players, but the inclusion of Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho has sparked debate among football stakeholders.

Musa, Nigeria's most-capped player with 110 appearances and 18 goals, has not played a competitive minute for Nigeria since 2023. Despite his impressive record, his recall has divided opinion.

Ahmed Musa in action for Kano Pillars.

What Douglas said

Former BCC Lions captain Bolaji Douglas questioned the decision.

“Ahmed Musa has served the nation very well; I don’t see what he is still doing there. He is blocking someone’s position. Kelechi Iheanacho has struggled this season. Those two readily come to mind,” he said via the nation.

Douglas emphasised that the national team should not be a place for players to regain form.

"The national team should never become a rehabilitation centre or a place to come and wind down from the hectic demands on the players by their clubs season," he said.

He continued, "While it may be said that now is not the time to experiment with new players, it can equally be said that there should be no room for those not on top of their games.”

Nigeria is still searching for their first win in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, having drawn against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa last year.

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