Super Eagles weren’t at their best against Russia – Chelle

By Olaolu Joseph

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has admitted that his team did not perform at their best during the 1-1 draw with Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday night. He acknowledged that the Eagles struggled to impose themselves in the first half but showed notable improvement after the break.

Speaking after the match, Chelle noted that Russia controlled the opening half, taking advantage of Nigeria’s disjointed press and lack of cohesion. “It was not an easy game. We played against a very good team. Russia have a strong squad with a lot of pressure and technical quality,” he said.

The coach highlighted his side’s failure to execute their pressing style effectively in the first half, which allowed Russia to dictate play and take the lead through a defensive error.

“We didn’t play well in the first half. We didn’t enforce our pressing game properly. Russia had their chances and took them. We had ours, but their keeper made good saves,” Chelle remarked.

However, he praised the team’s second-half performance, particularly the impact of substitute Tolu Arokodare, who equalized after capitalizing on a poor pass from the Russian goalkeeper to score his first international goal. “In the second half, we were better. Our pressing improved, and that made a difference,” Chelle added.

Reflecting on the team’s overall display, Chelle pointed to squad rotation and the lack of familiarity among players as reasons for tactical inconsistencies. “We made lots of changes to the squad, and our usual pressing game was difficult to execute because the new players are yet to fully understand our system,” he explained.

He emphasized the need for continued work on the team’s playing pattern and finding the right balance. “We need to keep refining how we play and build better chemistry within the squad,” he said.

Looking ahead, Chelle stressed the importance of consistency as the Super Eagles prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers. “Now we’re focused on the future and the qualifiers. It’s important we find that consistency and improve,” he concluded.