Eric Chelle breaks silence on Troost-Ekong: Why he dropped Super Eagles captain vs Rwanda

Nigerian coach Eric Chelle has broken his silence on the surprising decision to drop Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong from the starting lineup in Nigeria’s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda.

With only three training sessions under his belt and mounting pressure to secure a win, Chelle made a bold tactical move ahead of the match in Uyo.

The decision signaled a new strategic approach and fresh motivation for the squad. In Troost-Ekong’s absence, Wilfred Ndidi was handed the captain’s armband, while Victor Osimhen led the attack alongside Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon.

This match also marked a new era in Nigeria’s defense as 20-year-old Fredrick, who impressed during the Unity Cup friendlies earlier this year, stepped into the heart of the backline. The change paid off as Nigeria secured a clean sheet and a vital 1-0 win over Rwanda.

Chelle had hinted at possible changes during his pre-match press conference, emphasising that every player in the squad deserved to be in the team and could be called upon at any moment.

After the victory, which was sealed by hero and super-sub Toluwase Arokodare, he addressed questions about his decision to leave out the captain.

“I don’t want to explain myself, this is my choice as a coach, and I respect and believe in all my players. This is my job. If we win, everybody will be happy, and if we don’t, they will complain but this is my choice,” Chelle said, according to Nigerian journalist Phatil.

The Franco-Malian coach’s decisive call shows his willingness and readiness to make tough decisions in pursuit of Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes.