Nigeria’s pursuit of young talent has taken an intriguing turn, with Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle enlisting the help of former Arsenal star Alex Iwobi to woo teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri.
Chelle’s strategic move comes as Nigeria prepares for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
A source close to the team revealed to SCORENigeria that Chelle has tasked Iwobi with leveraging his Arsenal connections to open communication with Nwaneri and his family.
The 17-year-old midfielder, born in London, has been making waves with impressive performances for Arsenal’s youth side this season, scoring three goals in 14 Premier League appearances.
Nwaneri’s talent has already earned him international recognition at the schoolboy level with England, making him a prime target for Nigeria.
Chelle’s proactive approach underscores the importance of securing Nwaneri’s allegiance.
The coach’s European tour to connect with key Super Eagles players demonstrates his commitment to building a strong squad for the upcoming qualifiers.
His recent activities include watching Iwobi play for Fulham in their FA Cup victory against Wigan. Iwobi, coming off the bench in the second half, witnessed his team’s hard-fought 2-1 win.
Chelle also took time to assess the form of another Super Eagles stalwart, Moses Simon, during Nantes’ Ligue 1 clash against Brest. Despite Simon’s efforts, Nantes suffered a 2-0 defeat.
The Malian coach is expected back in Abuja this week to discuss his plans for the remaining six World Cup qualifying matches with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) leadership.
Securing Nwaneri’s commitment would be a significant boost for Nigeria’s World Cup aspirations.
His addition could inject fresh dynamism into the Super Eagles midfield.
