Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has explained his decision to hand national team invitations to Mubarak Suleiman, Abdullahi Bewene and former Golden Eaglets captain Samson Tijani ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.

The Malian tactician addressed the selections during his pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s qualifying encounter against Tanzania, insisting that the national team remains open to every deserving player.

Chelle maintained that the trio earned their places in the squad through their efforts and determination, adding that their motivation to prove themselves at the highest level influenced their inclusion.

“Like I said, the national team is not closed to anybody. If they [Suleiman, Bewene and Tijani] are here, it is because they deserve to be here,” Chelle said.

“They want to show it to everybody, what they can do. They are very motivated,” he added.

The invitation of Czech Republic-based duo Suleiman and Bewene, alongside Tijani, has provided an opportunity for the players to stake their claims for regular involvement in the Super Eagles setup.

Chelle’s comments also reinforce his position that national team selection should remain open to players who demonstrate the quality, commitment and desire to represent Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are scheduled to take on Tanzania in their AFCON 2027 qualifying fixture on Friday, with kick-off set for 5:00 PM Nigerian time.