Nigeria, May 27 -- Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has challenged the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players in his squad to elevate their game even further, insisting that flashes of promise alone will not guarantee long-term places in the national team setup.

Nigeria's defence of the Unity Cup began on an encouraging note on Tuesday night as the Super Eagles defeated Zimbabwe 2-0 at The Valley, with forward Femi Azeez scoring both goals in an assured performance.

However, beyond the result, the spotlight firmly rested on the unfamiliar faces handed opportunities by Chelle in what was clearly an experimental squad.

The Franco-Malian tactician deliberately blended NPFL standouts with Europe-based professionals, offering sev...