Eric Chelle urges CAF to investigate poor pitches after Nigeria defeat

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to investigate the use of poor pitches in international matches, suggesting some teams may be deliberately limiting the Super Eagles’ style of play.

Chelle’s comments follow Nigeria’s 3-0 defeat away to Guinea-Bissau in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.

The match was played in Bissau on a pitch that had reportedly prompted clubs to warn their players against playing on the surface.

The Nigerian coach believes the poor playing conditions restricted his side’s ability to play their usual passing game and move the ball effectively.

Chelle said the experience was not new, recalling similar difficulties during Nigeria’s recent away encounter against South Africa.

“I remember we had to play against South Africa on a pitch that wasn’t good enough for the magnitude of the game we played. Now, the pitch in Bissau,” he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

“Sometimes I believe teams do this to limit the way we play, which involves a lot of passes and movements.”

Despite his concerns, Chelle insisted that his players must learn to adapt to difficult conditions rather than rely on the state of the pitch to explain disappointing results.

The coach acknowledged that poor playing surfaces can affect a team’s performance but stressed that Nigeria must find solutions when faced with such challenges.

“We have to find a way to do our job because when you lose, people don’t want to hear excuses,” he said.

“So it’s what I tell my players all the time, and hopefully we will do it.”