Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, has assured Nigerians that the national team project is progressing as envisaged, saying that such games as the one against Ghana on Wednesday and tomorrow’s encounter with Jamaica are part of the process aimed at making the national team ready for the challenges ahead.

Speaking after the 2-1 victory over Ghana in the Unity Cup on Wednesday, Chelle, who picked a blend of home-based players and their Europe-based counterparts in the game, promised a better team against Jamaica in the final game of the Unity Cup tomorrow.

Nigeria advanced to the final of the Unity Cup holding at the Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, England, with a first-half goal by Cyril Dessers and Razak Simpson’s own goal, before Christopher Bonsu Baah halved the deficit in the 70th minute.

Chelle handed debuts to home-based Papa Mustapha, Ismalia Sodiq, Alimi Sikiru, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, and Chinemerem Ugwueze, as well as Igoh Ogbu, who is based in Czech Republic.

The team, led by Wilfred Ndidi, also had such regulars as goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, Samuel Chukwueze and Frank Onyeka.

Chelle said his side would prepare differently for the game against Jamaica, saying that the North Americans have a good team, which requires hard work to beat.

“We want to win, but the reality is Jamaica is a great team, with a great staff and players. It will be a great game again, so we focus on two or three training sessions and we will see after,” he said.

On the Super Eagles’ inability to maintain the same standard over 90 minutes, which was the team’s bane against Zimbabwe in the 2026 World Cup qualifier early this year and against Ghana on Wednesday, Chelle said: “I want my teams to press high, but the system has been very difficult for the players to do over 90 minutes.

“We need to work hard to improve, but as I said earlier, the reality is that there is little time to practice this system. I have had only seven or eight training sessions since I became the coach of this team. We have played three games with two wins and one draw; so we need to improve, we need to work. The players need to be ready to work hard,” he said.

He said the first half against Ghana showed what the team should look like, adding that with time, they will get it right.

On the home-based players, Chelle said his job is to field Nigeria’s best players in games, adding that he could only do that by giving every available top-quality player the opportunity to fight for a shirt.

“We are looking at players to make the difference in our games. I may find some guy who can score in the last minute against Rwanda or against South Africa, or against Zimbabwe, or against Lesotho. My job is to work and try to do the best for this team, for Nigerians, for the local players and for the other players.

“So, we work. I am happy to be here with my players, and we are focused on the next World Cup qualifier in September.”

The Super Eagles will meet the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica in the final game of the Unity Cup tomorrow at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, England.