Eric Chelle's decision to drop Dele-Bashiru proven right as Lazio coach shares fitness update

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle’s decision to exclude Fisayo Dele-Bashiru from Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe has been justified, as Lazio manager Marco Baroni confirmed the midfielder is still struggling with an ankle injury.

Dele-Bashiru sustained the injury during Lazio’s goalless draw against Venezia in Serie A, causing him to miss three consecutive matches across all competitions, including the first leg of Lazio’s UEFA Europa League clash against Viktoria Plzeň.

Although the Nigerian international returned to the bench in Lazio’s 1-1 draw against Udinese, he was left out of Chelle’s final 23-man squad despite making the initial 39-man provisional list.

This decision initially sparked concerns among fans and analysts, questioning why the Malian tactician omitted the midfielder. 

However, Baroni’s latest update on Dele-Bashiru’s condition has supported Chelle’s call.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Lazio’s Europa League return leg at the Stadio Olimpico, Baroni provided insight into the midfielder’s struggles.

"Castellanos is fine and will be in the game. In any case, I will make some assessments together with him. We will reflect on Nino Tavares, while Dele-Bashiru still has some pain in his ankle and I will have a chat with him too," Baroni stated.

Dele-Bashiru has been in excellent form for Lazio this season, particularly in the Europa League, where he has scored two goals and provided two assists to help his team finish top of the group phase.

While Baroni remains hopeful that the Nigerian midfielder can play a role in the return leg against Viktoria Plzeň, his ongoing fitness struggles further validate Chelle’s decision to leave him out of Nigeria’s squad for the crucial qualifiers.

Adeyemi Adewale

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