Nigeria manager Eric Chelle has never shied away from bold calls, but his team selection for today’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Rwanda may be his bravest yet.
The Super Eagles boss has ripped up his usual playbook, made a huge decision on his captain, and taken a gamble on a forward who hasn’t kicked a competitive ball this season.
This is a lineup that screams both risk and opportunity. Here are the three big takeaways from Chelle’s XI.
1. Troost-Ekong benched, Fredrick gets the nod
Few expected this. William Troost-Ekong, the veteran captain and Nigeria’s most experienced centre-back, has been dropped to the bench. In Troost-Ekong’s absence, Wilfred Ndidi will lead the Eagles out against Rwanda.
The decision is even more surprising given that he was sitting beside Chelle at Friday’s pre-match press conference, a clear sign, or so it seemed, that he would start.
But Chelle has rolled the dice, handing a competitive debut to 20-year-old Benjamin Fredrick, the youngest player in the squad. Fredrick, who impressed in May’s Unity Cup friendlies, now finds himself thrown into the fire in a crucial qualifier.
It is a bold contrast: Fredrick, the raw debutant, partnering Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, while Troost-Ekong, who turned 30 this year and was Nigeria’s leader at the Africa Cup of Nations, watches from the sidelines.
The decision may partly trace back to March’s qualifier against Zimbabwe, where Troost-Ekong was culpable for the late equaliser in a frustrating 1-1 draw.
Whether this move is a masterstroke or a disaster will depend entirely on how Fredrick holds his nerve against Rwanda’s forwards.
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2. Chelle ditches his diamond
Since taking charge, Chelle has been a staunch believer in the 4-4-2 diamond system, deploying it at senior level and even with the home-based Eagles at the recent CHAN tournament. Today, however, the philosophy has shifted.
Chelle has set Nigeria up in a 4-3-3, a move that prioritises both balance and width. The midfield trio of Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Alex Iwobi gives Nigeria steel, energy, and creativity, while up front Victor Osimhen leads the line, flanked by Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman.
It is a pragmatic adjustment, perhaps in recognition of Rwanda’s compact style. By stretching play, Nigeria will hope to pull the hosts out of shape and create room for Osimhen to operate. The switch also allows the team to press higher and defend wider – something that often looked problematic in the narrow diamond.
For Chelle, it is proof that he can be flexible when the stakes demand it.
3. Lookman’s surprise start
If the Troost-Ekong call was bold, Ademola Lookman’s inclusion is nothing short of eyebrow-raising.
The Atalanta forward has not played a single competitive match this season, having fallen out with his club after a failed summer move to Inter Milan. Atalanta blocked the transfer and Lookman, reportedly unsettled, has been sidelined ever since.
Still, Chelle has put his faith in the reigning African Footballer of the Year. Lookman’s quality has never been in doubt, his dazzling AFCON campaign last year reminded everyone why he is among the continent’s most dangerous attackers, but his lack of recent match fitness is a clear concern.
On the flip side, leaving him out would have been just as risky. Lookman offers a cutting edge from wide areas that few in Africa can match. His link-up with Osimhen could be the difference in Kigali.
Chelle has made sure the conversation starts before a ball is even kicked.