NPFL Boss Thumbs Up Chelle For Trust On Local Talents

Executive Chairman of the of the Nigeria Premier Football League and 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has thumbed up the 10 home-based Super Eagles players that made the cut for the 2025 Unity Cup tournament in the London, describing them as ‘good ambassadors’ of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Head coach, Eric Chelle, prosecuted two games at the GTech Community Stadium without a number of regulars like Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and current African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman.

The three-time African champions beat Ghana 2-1 in the semifinals and claimed a 5-4 win on penalties in the final of the Unity Cup against Jamaica after the game ended 2-2 in 90 minutes.

“As the domestic league organisers, our objective is to develop the local content and I’m happy with the Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelles, for looking inwards and finding players from the league worthy to make the Super Eagles team for the Unity Cup tournament,” the NPFL boss is quoted by the Nigeria Football Federation official website.

Junior Harrison Nduka and Ismaila Sodiq (both of Remo Stars), Ifeanyi Onyebuchi of Rangers and Ikorodu City’s Waliu Ojetoye are the NPFL defenders that Coach Chelle took to London.

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Also, Saviour Isaac and Colins Ugwueze (both of Rangers), and Papa Daniel Mustapha of Niger Tornadoes are the domestic league midfielders who made the squad to London as well as former Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa of Kano Pillars and Plateau United’s Adamu Abubakar as the NPFL strikers that made Chelle’s squad.

“The players proved ‘good Ambassadors’ of the NPFL. They demonstrated that the Nigerian League has quality and good players.

“Their performance can only go a long way challenging players in the league to always make hard work and discipline their watch ward, bearing in mind that someone somewhere (like Chelle) is watching.

“Such performance can only open more windows for more players from our home league into the senior national team.”

Elegbeleye paid tribute to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF leadership for inspiring a new era of success for the various national teams.

“While we congratulate the Super Eagles for winning the Unity Cup Tournament in London, we must also bear in mind that only good leadership breeds success.

“The present leadership of the NFF should be given thumbs up. Last year, Super Eagles came close to winning the AFCON title in Ivory Coast. Eventually, the team won silver medal. This time again, they have qualified for the 2025 AFCON and who says they can’t come back home with the trophy for the fourth time for Nigeria.

“Flying Eagles have also qualified for the FIFA U20 World Cup finals. Even the 2026 World Cup, we’re close to getting the ticket because its a huge possibility that we can beat South Africa on their soil to get the ticket.

“These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without a sound leadership on the part of the NFF under Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau”, Elegbeleye said.