William Troost-Ekong has shed light on the Super Eagles' swift adjustment to new head coach Eric Chelle’s tactics, despite having just a few full training sessions before their crucial win over Rwanda.
Friday’s triumph marked the Super Eagles' first victory in five World Cup qualifying matches, following a run of three draws and one defeat. It also served as redemption for their loss to the Amavubi in an AFCON 2025 qualifier in Uyo last November.
Troost-Ekong, who captained the Super Eagles on the day, acknowledged the challenge of adapting on short notice but praised the team’s ability to execute Chelle’s game plan, even with some players playing out of position.
Troost-Ekong highlights Super Eagles' adaptability under Chelle
Speaking to the press in a post-match press conference, Troost-Ekong acknowledged the challenges but commended the Super Eagles' ability to execute Chelle’s instructions despite limited training sessions, even with some players featuring out of position.
“Like the coach said, we tried to understand what he wanted us to do early on.
“We only had maybe two or three full training sessions, a lot of video sessions, but today you saw glimpses of what we should be expecting under coach Eric Chelle… players played out of position,” Troost-Ekong said.
Chelle was appointed as the substantive manager of the Super Eagles in January, succeeding Finidi George and interim boss Austin Eguavoen.
His appointment sparked widespread debate among Nigerian football fans, but Friday’s victory over the Amavubi appears to have not only won over the supporters but also earned the admiration of the players.
The Super Eagles are set to face Zimbabwe on Tuesday, March 25, in Uyo, marking the conclusion of this phase of the World Cup qualifiers before the next round resumes in September. Nigeria currently sits fourth in the group standings with four points.
