The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made a significant move in its efforts to revitalize the Super Eagles, announcing the appointment of Eric Chelle as the team’s new head coach. This development was made public through a statement released by the NFF on Tuesday, confirming that the Malian tactician has been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the Super Eagles to success. It is important to note that the super eagles have been without a permanent coach since the sack of Current Rivers United Coach, Finidi George, last year.
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The appointment of Chelle, 47, was the culmination of a thorough selection process. The NFF’s technical and development sub-committee had recommended him for the position on January 2, and the federation’s executive committee subsequently endorsed this recommendation just hours before the official announcement.
As the new head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. His appointment is expected to inject fresh momentum into the team, and Nigerian football fans will be eagerly awaiting his first match in charge. With Chelle at the helm, the Super Eagles will be looking to regain their footing on the international stage and make a strong push for success in upcoming competitions.
He is the first-ever non-Nigerian African to be named the head coach of the Eagles
Eric Chelle, the newly appointed head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has a rich football background. Notably, he led Mali to the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, where they narrowly lost to the hosts in extra time.¹ This heartbreaking defeat was met with an unforgettable reaction from Chelle, who was seen squatting and hyperventilating, requiring his assistants to revive him with bottles of water.
Prior to his stint with Mali, Chelle managed several lower-division French clubs, including GS Consolat, FC Martigues, and Boulogne. As a player, he represented the Malian senior men’s national team five times and had spells with various French teams, such as Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais.
Chelle’s appointment as the Super Eagles’ head coach takes effect immediately, with the primary objective of securing a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. His first challenge will be the upcoming matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March, as Nigeria currently sits fifth in Group C of the qualifier, winless after four games.
However there has been uproar by Nigerians, who claims that they need a better coach, an European probably, who can salvage Nigeria’s problem.
