Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is combing Europe in search of more options in defence ahead of their upcoming friendly games in May, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
The coach started his reign with a win away to Rwanda before enduring a very painful heartbreak against Zimbabwe, who scored at the death to draw 1-1 against in Uyo.
Chelle bemoans the lack of options in defence which made it impossible for him to make substitutions in defence, even when it was evident that some players were tired.
In that game against Zimbabwe he only had two defenders in Igho Ogbu and Jordan Torunarigha , with the former yet to be capped by Nigeria at any level and the latter has just one cap to his name.
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The situation made the coach to instead bring in extra midfielder in Raphael Onyedika and when top striker Victor Osimhen asked to be subbed off he replaced him with another striker,.at a time when a defender would have been perfect to see the game off.
His lack of faith in the options on the bench is no why he is looking for more credible alternatives, although he is aware that the duo of Zaidu Sanusi and Semi Ajayi will likely be available to add to his depth.
Leon Balogun is one player that has been mentioned a lot before and even after the games, and it appears Chelle is now open to the option of handing him a role in the team as early as the games in June against Ghana in a three nation friendly tournament, alongside Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago as well.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
