CHAN 2024: They're playing individual football to move abroad - 2002 World Cup star blasts Super Eagles B

Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has called on Nigeria’s home-based national team to ditch individual play and focus on team unity following their 1-0 defeat to Senegal in the opening Group D match of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The match, held at the Amani Stadium in Tanzania, saw Christian Gomis score the decisive goal for the Senegalese in the second half, handing Nigeria a disappointing start to their CHAN campaign.

Reacting on Brila FM, the 2002 FIFA World Cup star advised head coach Eric Chelle to take on more of a psychological role in guiding the players back on track ahead of their next clash against Sudan.

“Eric Chelle must now play the role of a psychologist. He needs to tell the players to play as a team and stop playing individual football because this is a tournament,” Udeze stated.

He expressed concern that many players were more focused on impressing scouts than winning games for the country.

“They see this tournament as an opportunity to sell themselves to foreign clubs,” he added.

Despite the disappointing start, Udeze remains optimistic about Nigeria’s chances of progressing to the knockout stages, but only if changes are made quickly.

“I saw a lot of mistakes, and I believe Eric Chelle also saw the mistakes, but I still have hope they will come out of the group. Like I said, they need to play more as a team and stop playing individual football,” he said.

The Super Eagles B will now turn their attention to their second group match against Sudan on August 12.