Chelle Keeps Close Watch as Super Eagles Begin New Chapter Ahead of AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
As the dust begins to settle on Nigeria’s painful 2026 FIFA World Cup miss and the disappointment of the Super Falcons’ failure to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Nigerian football fans can finally begin to look forward with renewed optimism.
For the Super Eagles, a new chapter is already taking shape, with head coach Éric Chelle keeping a close eye on players across Europe as the new football season gets underway.
The Franco-Malian tactician is already assessing both established stars and potential new invitees as Nigeria prepares to begin its journey towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Super Eagles opening their qualifying campaign at home against Madagascar before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria’s opening two fixtures will fall within the first FIFA international window of the new season, giving Chelle an early opportunity to assess his options and continue building a squad capable of restoring belief around the national team.
FIFA Changes International Break Calendar
That task will come under a slightly different international calendar, following changes to FIFA’s men’s International Match Calendar.
The first international window of the 2026/27 season will now run from September 21 to October 6, coming after Matchday 5 of the English Premier League rather than the earlier September window traditionally positioned around Matchday 3. The extended 16-day window will allow national teams to play up to four matches.
The second and final international window of 2026 will take place from November 9 to 17, meaning the Super Eagles will have just two international windows remaining this year.
The revised schedule could prove important for Chelle, particularly as he looks to assess players who may not have previously featured prominently in his plans.
Super Eagles Begin Another AFCON Dream
Nigeria’s immediate focus, however, will be on the Africa Cup of Nations.
After reaching the final of the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire and finishing third at the 2025 edition in Morocco, the Super Eagles will once again chase continental glory, this time at the 2027 AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The qualifying draw placed Nigeria in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau.
Unlike most groups, Tanzania’s presence carries a unique qualification dynamic because the country is one of the tournament’s co-hosts and is therefore automatically qualified. CAF’s qualification regulations state that only the highest-ranked team outside the host nation will qualify from Group L.
Nigeria will begin its campaign at home against Madagascar on September 23 before travelling to Guinea-Bissau four days later on September 27. The Super Eagles will then face Tanzania home and away in November, before completing the group stage against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in March 2027.
The opening fixtures could therefore set the tone for Chelle’s first major competitive campaign with the Super Eagles.
Chelle’s Eyes Already on the Diaspora
There are already signs that the Super Eagles boss is casting his net wider.
Chelle offered a glimpse into some of the players currently on his radar through his Instagram activity over the weekend, posting or following several Nigerian players based across Europe and beyond.
Among the names attracting his attention were Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen, Sevilla winger Chidera Ejuke, experienced defender Semi Ajayi, former international Kelechi Iheanacho, Al-Ittihad striker George Ilenikhena, Rafiu Durosinmi, Alhassan Yusuf and Nathan Tella.
The activity has fuelled speculation that Chelle could introduce fresh faces into the Super Eagles setup as he searches for the right blend of experience, youth and current form.
One player reportedly on the coach’s radar is German-Nigerian midfielder Francis Onyeka, who made a strong statement over the weekend.
Onyeka came off the bench to score twice for Elversberg in their 3-1 victory over MSV Duisburg in the German Cup, producing the kind of individual performance that could strengthen his case for a first senior Nigeria call-up.
With the new European season only beginning, Chelle’s monitoring process is already in full swing.
For a Super Eagles side looking to move beyond the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup, the AFCON 2027 qualifiers offer a fresh opportunity and Chelle appears determined to leave no stone unturned in assembling a squad capable of taking Nigeria back to the top of African football.