Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle was spotted in the stands of the Orange Vélodrome on Tuesday, signaling a proactive shift in Nigeria’s recruitment strategy. The tactician’s trip to France centered on Marseille’s recent double-swoop for Nigerian-eligible talents Ethan Nwaneri and Tochukwu Nnadi.
The visit coincided with Marseille’s commanding 3-0 victory over Rennes in the Coupe de France quarterfinals. While the “French giants” secured their spot in the final four, Chelle’s focus remained firmly on the personnel in the dugout and on the pitch.
Tochukwu Nnadi: The former Zulte Waregem midfielder recently penned a four-and-a-half-year deal with Marseille. Although registration delays kept him off the matchday squad, Chelle made a point to meet the new signing privately, later sharing a photo of the encounter on social media to welcome him to the club.
Ethan Nwaneri: The Hale End Academy graduate was the primary focus of the evening. Starting for Marseille, the versatile attacker played the opening 45 minutes before a tactical halftime substitution following a yellow card.
Despite Chelle’s presence, the battle for Nwaneri’s international future remains a “high-stakes” affair. The dual-nationality star is currently weighing his options; while Nigeria is making their interest clear, reports suggest the youngster is presently leaning toward representing England at the senior level.
“Evening at the Velodrome… Glad to have welcomed Nnadi, a new face to Marseille.” — Eric Chelle via Instagram.
