Super Eagles B head coach, Eric Chelle, has defended his squad selection despite Nigeria’s heavy 4-0 defeat to Sudan at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Zanzibar.

Chelle maintained that the team comprised the best talents available from the Nigeria Premier Football League, asserting that his choices were made on merit and in good faith.

“Even though the result is disappointing, the players selected were, in my opinion, the best representatives of the league,” Chelle stated.

He explained that the squad eventually fielded was different from the one he originally planned for the tournament.

“About five players either left the camp or didn’t show up at all—they moved to other leagues. So the team we had wasn’t the one we had imagined. But still, I believe these were the best players in the league,” he clarified.

Nigeria’s elimination from the 8th CHAN edition was sealed following Sudan’s dominant performance, with two goals scored in each half. The Eagles now sit at the bottom of Group D.

Sudan took advantage of defensive errors, with Yagoub Omer netting twice in the second half to seal the victory and crush Nigeria’s chances of advancing.

Reflecting on the match, Chelle admitted the team had a strong start but quickly lost their grip due to avoidable mistakes.

“The players were focused at the beginning, and we even had a goal. But after that, the errors increased, and we lost control in the second half. Each of the four goals came from mistakes, in my view,” he said.

He further detailed the lapses, stating, “We can't afford to play this way. In both games, the goals we conceded came from errors. The first goal against Senegal was a mistake. Against Sudan, the first two goals were errors, and the remaining two resulted from poor positioning.”

Chelle emphasized the intensity of the tournament and the level of focus required.

“It’s a tough competition. We must learn to stay sharp and be more concentrated,” he said, encouraging the players to use the experience as a learning opportunity.

With Nigeria officially out of the tournament, their upcoming Group D fixture against Congo will serve only as a formality.