Chelle is watching: Expert hails forgotten Super Eagles duo after heroics against ex-Man United coach

Super Eagles duo shine for Saints.

Chelle is watching: Expert hails forgotten Super Eagles duo after heroics against ex-Man United coach

Izuchukwu Akawor • Izuchukwu Akawor • 11:05 - 02.02.2025

Super Eagles duo of Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo were the heroes for Southampton against Ipswich in the Premier League.

Super Eagles duo Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo delivered a match-winning performance for Southampton, leading the team to a crucial 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Saturday. 

Their efforts not only secured three vital points but also drew praise from notable Nigerian journalist and football administrator Tobi Adepoju.

Aribo opened the scoring for Southampton in the 21st minute with a well-placed shot that slipped past Ipswich goalkeeper Aro Muric. This was Aribo's third goal of the season. 

Ipswich equalised shortly after through Liam Delap, who found the net in the 31st minute, but Onuachu struck late in the game to seal the win with his second goal of the campaign.

Joe Aribo
Aribo with the opener for Southampton. Joe Aribo scored one of Southampton's two goals in Saturday's Premier League win at Ipswich (Credit: Imago)

The victory was significant for Southampton, as it ended a streak of three consecutive league losses and marked their first win under new manager Ivan Juric. The team had been struggling at the bottom of the league table, and this win brought them closer to safety, reducing their deficit to eight points from safety.

Following the match, Adepoju took to social media to highlight the importance of Aribo and Onuachu's contributions, noting that new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is closely monitoring players ahead of his first official duty with the national team in March. 

Eric Chelle is expected to lead the Super Eagles to AFCON 2025.

He tweeted, “Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu. Eric Chelle is watching.”

As both players aim to impress Chelle and secure their places in the national team, they will look to build on this strong performance in upcoming matches. 

Onuachu the match winner.

The Super Eagles are set to rebuild under Chelle's guidance, and Aribo and Onuachu's recent heroics have positioned them favourably for potential call-ups.