By IDNN Homefront Football Desk
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is set to attend the President’s Federation Cup Final at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos on Saturday, June 28, as part of his efforts to identify top-performing local players for CHAN 2024.
The final clash between Kwara United and Abakaliki FC will offer Chelle a rare, high-stakes opportunity to assess domestic talent in a competitive setting — a key step in shaping his squad for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled to take place in August, co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
“I want to see who has the hunger, the sharpness, and the ability to thrive under pressure,” Chelle said in a pre-match interview.
“CHAN is about showcasing Africa’s best homegrown talent — and Nigeria must lead that conversation.”
The former Mali international, who recently oversaw Nigeria’s unbeaten run at the Unity Cup invitational in London, has already named 10 home-based players in his provisional list. His presence at the cup final signals a shift toward deeper integration of NPFL and NNL players into the national team fold.
🇳🇬 Nigeria’s CHAN 2024 Group:
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Group D
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Congo
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Equatorial Guinea
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Sudan
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Nigeria
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With only domestic-league players eligible for CHAN, Chelle’s Lagos visit is expected to influence his final shortlist — and could determine which clubs see their stars earn international caps this year.