Ex-West Brom Star Blasts Eric Chelle’s Critics After Sudan Loss

Eric Chelle-led Super Eagles B team have lost two games against Senegal and Sudan at the 2024 CHAN tournament…

Former West Bromwich Albion striker Brown Ideye has come to the defence of coach Eric Chelle following Nigeria’s loss to Sudan, according to Soccernet.ng.

The AFCON 2013 champion slammed those he believes are unfairly blaming the Malian for Nigeria’s humiliating 4–0 defeat to Sudan in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Tuesday.

The loss, which ended Nigeria’s hopes in the competition, sparked widespread criticism of Chelle and his team selection.

Ex-West Brom Star on Eric Chelle’s Critics

However, Ideye, who played for Olympiacos in the Greek top flight, took to his X account (formerly Twitter) to deliver what he called the bitter truth.

“Let’s keep lying to ourselves and keep blaming someone else every time we fail. We’re not good enough, that’s the bitter truth. It’s what you have, the coach will work with, period. And we don’t have what it takes to compete on the bigger stage. And we keep lying to ourselves,” Ideye wrote.

Chelle’s men witnessed a heavy defeat, in which Nigeria conceded through an own goal by Leonard Ngenge, a penalty converted by Walieldin Khedr, and a brace from Abdel Raouf.

The Super Eagles head coach had since become a topic of discussion in the Nigerian football community, with some agreeing that the problems lie in the quality of players available, while others insist the issues run deeper, involving Nigeria’s football structure and management.

CHAN Nigeria Super Eagles vs Sudan

Abdulrafiu Abeeb Taiwo of Nigeria challenged by Mazin Fadul Albahli of Sudan during the 2024 African Nations Championship, CHAN, football match between Sudan and Nigeria at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Photo Credit: NFF Comms

Super Eagles B’s Next Match

The Super Eagles B team will now have a chance to prove fans wrong when they face Congo at the CHAN 2024 final group game, billed for Tuesday, August 19.