Super Eagles news: Why Chelle’s double duty is a Nigeria problem

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is also head coach of the Olympic Eagles, and both teams play on 13 and 17 November, leaving the NFF to say who will sit on which bench.

The Super Eagles host Tanzania in Uyo on 13 November and travel to Dar es Salaam on 17 November in their AFCON 2027 qualifiers, according to the NFF fixtures reported by Afrik-Foot on 25 October.

The Olympic Eagles, Nigeria's U23 side, play DR Congo in the U23 AFCON qualifier on the same two days. The first leg is on Friday 13 November at TP Mazembe Stadium in Lubumbashi, and the return is on Tuesday 17 November at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

The NFF's communications department has acknowledged that the U23 games fall within the same international window as the senior qualifiers. The federation has not yet said who will handle which team.

Nigeria sit second in Group L, three points off the top

Nigeria have three points in Group L after a 2-1 win over Madagascar and a 3-0 defeat in Bissau. Guinea-Bissau lead with six points and Tanzania have one. Tanzania have already qualified as co-hosts. Soccernet set out why Nigeria's AFCON 2027 hopes run through Tanzania last week.

Analysis: One coach cannot be in Uyo and Lubumbashi on the same day

The two fixtures sit in different countries on the same days, so Chelle cannot realistically stand on both touchlines. Someone else has to lead one team on 13 November and again on 17 November.

The senior side has the more urgent job. Nigeria trail Guinea-Bissau by three points, and a poor result at home to Tanzania would leave the group harder to recover. If Chelle stays with the Super Eagles, the U23 games fall to an assistant or a caretaker; if he travels with the Olympic Eagles on either date, the senior team plays without its head coach.

The NFF, which has kept Uyo as the Super Eagles' home venue for now, has two squads to name and a coaching arrangement to announce before the first whistle on 13 November.