‘You shouldn’t put all the blame on Eric Chelle' - Isaac Success calls out NFF, players over WCQ crisis

Speaking in a no-holds-barred interview with Home Turf, Isaac Success risks backlash from the Nigeria Football Federation after condemning the local football governing body for mishandling the Super Eagles' 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

With four matches left in the World Cup qualifiers, Success acknowledged that qualifying for next year's tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada would be difficult for the Super Eagles.

South Africa moved six points clear of Nigeria at the top after an unexpected 2-0 triumph over Benin in Abidjan.

Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe on Tuesday night in Uyo left fans and pundits searching for someone to blame, with Eric Chelle, William Troost-Ekong and Stanley Nwabali bearing the brunt of the criticism for the Super Eagles' unexpected slip-up.

Isaac Success has raised critical questions about the state of Nigerian football, particularly in relation to the appointment of Eric Chelle as head coach.

Rather than placing sole responsibility on the new coach for Nigeria's failure to beat Zimbabwe, Success believes accountability should be more evenly distributed across all levels of Nigerian football, including the Nigerian Federation. 

"Do we have a structure before Eric Chelle was appointed? That's the first question. The second question, if he's coming with his own philosophy, do you think you have the players to fit in?" Success said. 

"If you are looking at these areas, you shouldn't put all the blame on Eric Chelle. You should put the blame on the players, the staff, everyone involved, even the NFf, because everyone is at fault at this point not just the boys.

"They are putting all the pressure on the boys right now. They are going back to their clubs, this is the time to rebuild, rethink and prepare for the upcoming qualifying games."

Success opened up about the intense pressure of representing the Super Eagles, highlighting the challenges players face, including harsh criticism from Nigeria fans and its impact on them.

"Nigerians, if they come for you, you will deactivate your account, run away from the country immediately. 

"That’s what we have been facing for years in the Super Eagles," Success said, highlighting the unforgiving nature of fans.

The former Watford striker also addressed the ongoing debate surrounding Victor Osimhen’s role in the team, stressing the need for patience in developing other strikers.

"Let me start from the Osimhen issue. You said if he doesn’t play, no other player can score. 

"I know it’s disappointing, but if it is well thought out, Osimhen has built confidence because he has been with the Super Eagles for a while. He scores 90 percent of his chances in front of goal.

"Another striker needs a longer time to make his mark and gain that confidence so that we can have two solid strikers. If one is substituted, the other one will deliver."

Success emphasized the importance of team cohesion, noting that Nigeria’s World Cup aspirations depend on every player being in sync with the team's objectives.

"If you have a team aiming for a World Cup ticket, you have to make sure everyone is on the same page regarding what it takes for the country to qualify. If six players don’t know what they are doing, it rubs off on everyone.

"Two or three players – we don’t need to mention names – didn't know why they were on the pitch, and it affected the rest of the team."

The Nigeria international pointed out that the Super Eagles have relied too heavily on individual brilliance rather than a collective strategy.

"We have been going forward due to individual brilliance. If we should focus on team empowerment, with the caliber of players we have, they can move mountains."

An U17 World Cup winner with the Golden Eaglets in 2013, Success has been in the international wilderness for more than six years, with his last appearance for the Super Eagles coming against Uganda in November 2018.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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