Super Eagles’ coach, Eric Sekou Chelle was among dignitaries who graced the opening day of matches in this year’s Nigerian National League (NNL) Super-4 and he rated the quality of play high.
Sports247 caught up with the Franco-Malian tactician immediately after he watched the opening match between Sporting Lagos FC and Ranchers Bees of Kaduna, but he refused to talk about his plans for the 2026 Unity Cup, since it was not in his mission to Ikenne.
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Although the four-nation invitational competition will come up in the last week of this month, Chelle insisted he was in Ikenne to watch club football, hence his decision to keep sealed lips of the national team and his plans for the 2026 Unity Cup in London.
However, the former Mali and MC Oran of Algeria gaffer chipped in monosyllables about the match he watched on Monday at the Super-4 and described it as ‘a good game between two good teams.’
He hinted that he might return for the final round of matches in Friday, when two derbies will take place – as Sporting Lagos battle Inter Lagos and Doma United of Gombe face their northern rivals, Ranchers Bees of Kaduna.
Chelle retorted calmly but curtly, “I’m sorry, but I don’t want an interview about the national team. I just came here to watch some club games; not for the national team.
“I saw a good game with two good teams. Maybe two or three players are good. You can make suggestions, but that’s your vision. I don’t know about that.”
Meanwhile, Sports247 noted that Chelle spent several minutes in talks with the coach of Sporting Lagos, Buter Jeffrey after his team’s 1 0 victory over Ranchers Bees in the first match of this year’s NNL Super-4.
The long chat between both coaches in the middle of the pitch left observers wondering whether Chelle was planning on inviting one or two players from the club that has ace journalist, Godwin Enakhena as its chairman.
An official of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also told Sports247 in confidence that, though Chelle kept mum on his plans for the Unity Cup, the gaffer has actually finalised his list of invitees and he included a handful of home-based players in it.
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