Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has disclosed that an injury, rather than a technical decision, was behind George Ilenikhena’s omission from Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Tanzania.

Ilenikhena’s absence had generated questions among Nigerian football fans, particularly following his impressive introduction to international football during the September international break.

The young forward made an immediate impact on his Super Eagles debut, scoring in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo and raising expectations about his future involvement in the national team.

However, the youngster was surprisingly missing from Chelle’s squad for the two-legged qualifying encounter against Tanzania.

Addressing the issue during his pre-match press conference, the Franco-Malian tactician expressed surprise at the criticism surrounding his selection, suggesting that some people had reacted without knowing the circumstances behind certain decisions.

“I am surprised, as you know, I am not on social media. Some people send me a lot of things. I am surprised because there are no questions about the group and the players,” Chelle said.

The Super Eagles manager also challenged those seeking explanations about his decisions to approach him directly.

“Once again, if you have to tell me something, you can go straight [to me], and if I want to give you an answer, I will,” he stated.

Chelle subsequently addressed the controversy surrounding Ilenikhena, revealing that the striker was dealing with an injury.

“For example, I saw a lot of people speaking about why George Ilenikhena is not here. Do you know that he has an injury?” he asked.

“Before, some of you didn’t know. I think everybody needs to stay calm.”

The revelation puts to rest questions about whether Ilenikhena was dropped on technical grounds, with the coach making it clear that the youngster’s fitness was the reason for his absence.

Meanwhile, Chelle will turn his attention to the players available for selection as Nigeria continue their preparations for the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign against Tanzania.