Eric Chelle Criticizes Femi Azeez After Impressive Super Eagles Debut

2 months ago 47

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Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle has expressed his dissatisfaction with Femi Azeez’s overall performance, even though Nigeria won 2‑0 against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, according to Afrik‑Foot.

Azeez, one of the newly called‑up players for the Unity Cup, was thrust into the action for Nigeria’s opening match of the four‑nation tournament against the Zimbabwe Warriors.

The Millwall winger, who was one of the standout performers in the recently finished English Championship season, seemed to carry that form into the national team by scoring a brace to secure the win.

Femi Azeez 7 celebrates after scoring a goal during the Unity Cup London 2026 match between Nigeria and Zimbabwe at The Valley, London, UK on 26 May 2026.

He played 91 minutes before being replaced by Aderemi Adeoye in the closing moments of the game.

Many Nigerian fans and pundits regarded Azeez as the best player on the pitch, citing his goals as the decisive factor in the victory.

Nevertheless, while Chelle praised Azeez for his goals, the Franco‑Malian coach remained critical of the Millwall player’s broader contribution.

What Éric Chelle Said About Femi Azeez’s Performance

Although Chelle congratulated Azeez on his brace, he complained that the 24‑year‑old failed to follow tactical instructions.

“You can ask Azeez directly. The first objective was for him to run today; this is what I asked of them,” Chelle said. “The second instruction was to press high, but during the 90 minutes, they did not.”

“So we have to analyse the performance, particularly Azeez’s. I know he scored two goals, so congratulations to him. But he lost possession far too often technically, so I’m not happy. He won the ball back at times, but other times he didn’t, so I’m not happy. But for his debut, I can say congratulations to him.”

Following the Unity Cup, Nigeria is scheduled to play Poland and Portugal in two friendlies in June. When asked whether Azeez’s debut performance had earned him a place in the upcoming squad, Chelle gave a tentative reply.

“If I want him for the games against Portugal and Poland, I’ll say yes. But if I don’t want him, I’ll say no.”

After their win over Zimbabwe, the Super Eagles will await the outcome of today’s match between India and Jamaica.

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Kelvin Omachonu

Sports Writer

Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically‑driven stories.

A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game.

His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.

Away from work, Kelvin is also a basketball fan.