Super Eagles new star Femi Azeez has disclosed the message Eric Chelle gave him during his debut for Nigeria in the 2026 Unity Cup. Azeez emerged as Nigeria's breakout player of the tournament, scoring a brace in the 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe and providing an assist to Terem Moffi in the 3-0 win against Jamaica.
Azeez's Impressive Performance
These outstanding performances earned him widespread acclaim and calls for his inclusion in the squad for the international friendlies against Poland and Portugal. However, EFL Championship club Millwall refused to release the England-born forward, as he was not originally called up for those matches.
His withdrawal, along with that of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, leaves the manager short of options, but Chelle remains focused on building a winning team, as noted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The versatile forward expressed his willingness to join the team but respected his club's decision and looks forward to future invitations. "Of course. If he calls me up, that will be great, but let's see what happens," he told Proudly Austin.
Chelle's Message to Azeez
The EFL Championship Team of the Season star confirmed that Eric Chelle did not place heavy expectations on him during the Unity Cup, simply telling him to be himself. "I don't think there was any expectation. He called me and said, 'Just do my thing, enjoy myself and see how it goes'. There was no expectation, no pressure," he said.
Azeez also revealed the secret to his performance: the togetherness and atmosphere within the team, which felt as if they had been together for years. "Enjoyment. Good vibes here, good team, good management, freedom," he added. "It means the world. You know we've only been together for eight days, and we formed a good bond, a good family, and we are all happy, as you can see with the celebrations. We are happy to win the trophy, and hopefully more."
Owen Oseni on Chelle's Demands
Plymouth Argyle star Owen Oseni, another new player during the Unity Cup, also outlined Eric Chelle's demands during training. "There were three things that the manager wanted from us, and they were very simple things. Just pass and move, and when you get inside the box, finish it off," he said. "Obviously, in training we work on a lot of different things, and we have our own methods and formations."
Why Chelle Criticised Azeez
Legit.ng previously reported that Eric Chelle criticised Femi Azeez despite the Millwall star scoring two goals on his Super Eagles debut against Zimbabwe. The manager hit out at the player for failing to follow instructions but congratulated him on his match-winning performance.
