‘They deserve to be here’ – Super Eagles coach reveals why he called up Tijani and Nnadi

According to a report by Daily Post on Friday November 13, 2026, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has explained his decision to invite Czech-based duo Mubarak Suleiman and Abdullahi Bewene, alongside former Golden Eaglets captain Samson Tijani and midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi, to Nigeria’s squad.

The four players have been included as Chelle continues to explore his options and strengthen the Super Eagles ahead of the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.

Their invitations have attracted attention, particularly with the coach giving opportunities to players who will be eager to establish themselves in the senior national team.

Among the new faces is Mubarak Suleiman, who has enjoyed an impressive campaign with Czech club Sparta Prague.

The midfielder has registered five goals and three assists in 13 appearances across all competitions, performances that have earned him an opportunity to showcase his abilities at the international level.

Abdullahi Bewene is another Czech-based player who has received an invitation, while Samson Tijani gets an opportunity to impress after previously captaining Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets.

Tochukwu Nnadi’s inclusion also represents an important development, with the midfielder returning to the Super Eagles setup.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Chelle defended his selection decisions, insisting that the national team remains open to every eligible player who can demonstrate the quality required to represent Nigeria.

The Franco-Malian tactician stressed that the invited players have earned their places through their performances and have something different to offer the team.

“Like I said, the national team is not closed to anybody. If they are here, it is because they deserve to be here,” Chelle said.

The former Mali coach also explained that the new invitations were intended to bring fresh qualities into the squad, while giving the selected players an opportunity to demonstrate what they can contribute.

“They have something to bring, some new things. And for the other players, they are not in the squad. It doesn’t mean that the show is done,” he added.

Chelle’s comments will also serve as encouragement to players who were not included in the latest squad, as he made it clear that missing out on one selection does not mean their international careers are over.

The Super Eagles manager believes competition for places is important and wants every invited player to take advantage of the opportunity presented to him.

He further revealed that the players are highly motivated and eager to prove themselves, insisting that they are not intimidated by the challenge of representing Nigeria.

“They want to show it to everybody, what they can do. They are very motivated. I don’t think they are scared,” Chelle concluded.

The latest selections highlight Chelle’s willingness to look beyond established Super Eagles players as he continues to assess the available Nigerian talent.

Suleiman will particularly be hoping to make an impression after his impressive performances for Sparta Prague, while Bewene will also be eager to demonstrate his quality.

For Tijani and Nnadi, the upcoming international assignment represents an opportunity to strengthen their positions in the national team and convince the coaching staff that they deserve further involvement.

With Nigeria preparing for their AFCON qualifying fixtures against Tanzania, Chelle will be hoping that the new and returning players can bring additional quality and competition to his squad.

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