'I was surprised' - Eric Chelle says Super Eagles played like long-term teammates in win v Warriors

Manager Eric Chelle expressed his delight following the Super Eagles' impressive 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe at the Valley on Tuesday, praising his players for the instant understanding and cohesion they displayed on the pitch. Millwall's flamboyant winger Femi Azeez emerged as the standout performer, scoring a match-winning brace to send the Super Eagles into the final of the Unity Cup, where they will face either Jamaica or India in Saturday's showdown. Chelle handed debuts to eight players, with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, Chibueze Oputa, Obinna Igboke and Femi Azeez named in the starting lineup, while Rafiu Durosinmi, Tosin Oyedokun, Owen Oseni and Aderemi Adeoye entered the game as substitutes in the second half. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Chelle revealed he was particularly impressed by how quickly the team adapted despite having limited time together in camp.

He told reporters: "This game was good. The players worked a lot during the two days — two training sessions of three hours each — so they worked a lot and deserved this victory," Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle said at the post-match press conference. "We played with two systems in that game, 4-4-2 diamond and 4-2-3-1. I was happy because they played well.

I was surprised because it seemed as though they had been playing together for six months or one year. The reality is that it was the first time. At the end of the first half, there was nothing to say." Despite the win, Eric Chelle remained humble and praised the Warriors for their performance during the encounter. "Zimbabwe is a good team with strong players and they played well to win this game.

I am happy for them. Congratulations to the players." Copyright ANS