Chelle bans visitors and journalists from Super Eagles camp ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier

SUPER Eagles manager Eric Chelle has barred visitors and journalists from the team camp in Uyo ahead of Tuesday's forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe as part of a new disciplinary regime aimed at ensuring maximum concentration.

On Friday, Nigeria beat Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali to revive the nation's flagging 2026 World Cup hopes and the Super Eagles know they need to beat the Brave Warriors of Zimbabwe on Tuesday to remain in contention. Currently camped in the Akwa Ibom State capital Uyo, the Eagles will have two training sessions today to prepare them for the match.

Team spokesman Promise Efoghe, said coach Chelle has imposed restrictions on movement around the camp, barring visitors and journalists from direct access to the players. He added that tomorrow's training session will be partially accessible to the media for 15 minutes, following the official pre-match press conference. 

Mr Efoghe said: "The Eagles are back home and have started preparing for Tuesday's fixture. Coach Eric Chelle is not carried away by the win over Rwanda and is demanding maximum concentration from the players prior to the next game.

"To this end, he has imposed restrictions in and around the team's camp, no visitors, no journalists. Sunday's training is closed, while Monday's session will be opened for the mandatory 15 minutes shortly after the official press conference and provisions will be made for mixed zone interaction with the players on match day."

Under Gernot Rohr, José Peseiro and Augustine Eguavoen, the Super Eagles' training sessions were occasionally made accessible to fans, with specific days allocated for media interactions involving players, journalists and content creators. With five games left in the qualification series, Nigeria needs to win all of them to stand any chance of making the World Cup.