Eric Chelle Challenges Shooting Stars Star Ayobami Junior After Scouting NPFL Clash In Ibadan

Posted : 06 May 2026

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has issued a firm challenge to Shooting Stars playmaker Ayobami Junior following a scouting mission in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The Franco-Malian tactician attended the Matchday 36 encounter between Shooting Stars and Nasarawa United at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Sunday. While the home side secured a 3-2 victory, Chelle focused his post-match analysis on the individual performance of the highly-rated midfielder.

Chelle’s visit to Ibadan is part of a broader scouting tour aimed at identifying domestic talent for the upcoming 2026 Unity Cup. The invitational tournament is scheduled to take place in London from May 26 to May 30. Nigeria will defend their title against Jamaica, India, and Zimbabwe. Since the tournament falls outside the official FIFA window, Chelle plans to integrate several standout performers from the local league into the national team setup.

During the match, Ayobami Junior demonstrated his creative quality by providing two assists to take his season total to 13. Despite this offensive contribution, Chelle was critical of the 27-year-old’s work rate when his team lost possession. The coach noted that modern international football requires midfielders to be effective in both phases of the game. He insisted that Junior must improve his ability to win the ball back to be considered for a senior call-up.

Shooting Stars’ victory was secured by a brace from Lucky Emmanuel and a clinical strike from Qamar Adegoke. The result propelled the Oluyole Warriors to third place on the NPFL table as the season nears its conclusion. Nasarawa United fought back with goals from Jofrank Istifanus and Habibu Alakija, but the hosts held on for the maximum points. Junior had recently been named the club’s Player of the Month for March, highlighting his importance to the squad.

The Super Eagles coach continued his scouting mission on Tuesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. He watched Ikorodu City defeat Wikki Tourists 3-1 to further assess potential invitees for the London trip. Chelle is expected to announce his final squad for the Unity Cup next week. The team will face Zimbabwe in the semi-final at The Valley, the home ground of Charlton Athletic.

Eric Chelle Challenges Shooting Stars Star Ayobami Junior After Scouting NPFL Clash In Ibadan

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