Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has offered his honest assessment of Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday, June 6.
The Malian tactician acknowledged his team struggled to impose themselves early on but improved significantly after the break.
Speaking after the encounter, Chelle admitted that the opening half belonged to the hosts, who took full advantage of Nigeria’s disjointed press and lack of cohesion.
“It was not an easy game,” Chelle began. “We played against a very good team. Russia have a strong squad with a lot of pressure and technical quality.”
The Franco-Malian tactician pointed out that the Super Eagles failed to execute their pressing style in the first half, which allowed Russia to dictate proceedings and take the lead through a defensive error.
“We did not play well in the first half,” he said. “We didn’t enforce our pressing game well. Russia had their chances in the first half, and they took it. We had ours, but the keeper saved it.”
Chelle, however, praised his team’s second-half reaction, which saw them level the score through substitute Tolu Arokodare, who capitalized on a poor pass from the Russian goalkeeper to score his first international goal.
“In the second half, we were better,” he noted. “Our pressing improved and that made a difference. Russia had two chances, we had one or two, and we scored.”
Watch Tolu Arokodare's goal here:
71 MIN
— Football 411 (@football__411) June 6, 2025
GOAL
Tolu Arokodare
🇷🇺 1-1 🇳🇬
📲 #Football411 #RUSNGA
pic.twitter.com/fCRDxCkuOm
Reflecting on the broader picture, Chelle revealed that squad rotation and unfamiliarity among players contributed to the team’s tactical inconsistencies.
“We made lots of changes to the squad, and our usual pressing game was a bit difficult because the new players are yet to fully understand how we want to play,” he explained. “We need to keep working on our playing pattern and try to find the right balance.”
Looking ahead, Chelle emphasised the importance of refining the team’s style as they prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“Now we’re talking about the future of my team as we prepare for the World Cup qualifiers,” he added. “It’s important we find that consistency and improve.”
The Super Eagles will now turn their attention to competitive fixtures as they aim to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
