Nigerian Football
Say it loud! Am the right man for Super Eagles’ job, Chelle tells Benin Republic newspaper
Nigeria’s new national team coach, Eric Chelle, remarked that he was aware of all the misgivings that followed his appointment by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Benin Republic’s newspaper, Matin Libre, culling an interview that the Franco-Malian granted the France Radio Internationale (RFI), reports that Chelle insisted that he was the right man for the job.
The French channel had asked Chelle his frame of mind as he took the Super Eagles job in the context that insinuation arose that he lacked the experience.
Responding, Chelle remarked: “I go through a bit of all the states of mind.
“First of all, I am very happy and very proud to be here. It is an honour for me to have become the coach of the great national team.
I am arriving in an environment that I do not know, it is an English-speaking country, but I am very proud to be here.
“I was very well received, so I thank all the Nigerian people, the federation, the sports commission and, of course, the government.
“I only have one desire; it is to get to work quickly.”
When it was put to him that doubts abound about his ability to lead the Super Eagles to an enviable height, Chelle remarked: “Already, there are a lot of people who say that I don’t have much experience.
“But ultimately, I do have experience. I ended my career in 2014, and I’ve been coaching since that year.
“I coached a team, let’s say, from West Africa (Editor’s note: Mali) not long ago.
“I coached a team in Algeria, the Mouloudia Club d’Oran. So, I’m starting to get to know African football well.
“Today, I feel ready to lead this great team with great players. So, I’m part of the progression process; the players will help me progress and I will help them progress too.
“Because I have a vision of football that will fit well with this team.”
RFI then asked: “There will certainly be more pressure than in Mali. How will you manage this?”
Chelle responded: “We play football, it’s normal that there is pressure.
“It’s normal that there is criticism. Wherever I go, in any club or team, there will be people who are fans of me and others who will hate me.
“Today, I will work, I have certainties, I have my game plan in mind, and I will quickly put it in place.
“Now, my results and the team’s results will speak for me. So, we can say what we want.”
The greatest fear expressed was Chelle’s ability to manage the plethora of stars most of whom are big names in Europe. Such include the likes of Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.
Chelle admitted that they are great players, great men. “I will come with a lot of humility, but once again, I have a lot of certainties. It is a dialogue that we will have to establish between us.”
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigerian football followers are eagerly awaiting the new Super Eagles to hit the ground running and find out if he will deliver on his promise of qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 World Cup.
Éric Sékou Chelle was unveiled midday in Abuja as the possible miracle worker who will not only qualify the Super Eagles for the World Cup but possibly lead them to their fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.
Is he up to the task? Hear the man: “I want to thank my agent, the NFF, the NSC and indeed all Nigerians for this big opportunity.
“Coaching the Super Eagles of Nigeria is an amazing job; I do not take this appointment for granted. I am elated and will do my utmost best.
“Football is about scoring goals, so I favour an attacking style.
“I know the expectations of Nigerians and I will settle down and work diligently with assistants towards the goal of qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
He seems to get the confidence of his employers. President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau reiterated his call for Nigerians to come together and support the coach while promising that the football-ruling body will give Chelle all the support to succeed in his assignment.
At a ceremony inside the Media Conference Room of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, where Chelle was publicly unveiled, Gusau said he was impressed by the confidence and surefootedness that Chelle has shown in their interactions over the past few days, and is banking on him imbibing the Super Eagles with the same go-go attitude to turn around their fortunes in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series.
“I see in the new Head Coach the right spirit and the right attitude, and I have faith that he will take the Super Eagles to the next level. He sees the job of leading the Super Eagles as his dream job, and that is a huge motivation.
“Coach Chelle recognizes and appreciates what is ahead of him, and he says he loves the challenge. We will be there giving him the necessary support all the way.”
Gusau disclosed that the tactician has signed a two-year contract, with the option of another year, if he qualifies the Super Eagles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
Chelle has also come into the job with three assistants and will work with the crew on the ground to enhance the Super Eagles’ brand.
He will be with the Super Eagles B – which is preparing for the upcoming 8th African Nations Championship – only in a supervisory role.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko affirmed the NSC’s support for the Franco-Malian, stating that he was satisfied with the process that led to his recruitment by the NFF.
“Football is that one factor that unites all Nigerians and gives them tremendous joy.
“On our part, we are satisfied with the process leading to Mr. Chelle’s appointment and will support the NFF to ensure he has the most conducive atmosphere to do his job.
“The task of earning the World Cup ticket is for everyone, as the Government is fully ready to provide support, not in the form of any individual or group taking over the job of the NFF.
“The NFF is saddled with that responsibility; the Government will only support it with resources. I wish Coach Chelle the very best in the job.”
Chelle, who won five caps for the Aiglons of Mali in a playing career that also saw him playing for FC Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais, said he is excited to land the job of coaching one of Africa’s biggest football names.
LIST OF SUPER EAGLES’ COACHES IN HISTORY
- John Finch (England) – 1949
- Daniel Anyiam (Nigeria) – 1954-1956; 1964-1965
- Les Courtier (England) – 1956-1960
- Moshe Beit Halevi (Israel) – 1960-1961
- George Vardar (Hungary) – 1961-1963
- Joey Blackwell (England) – 1963 – 1964
- József Ember (Hungary) – 1965-1968
- Sabino Barinaga (Spain) – 1968-1969
- Peter ‘Eto’ Amaechina (Nigeria) – 1969-1970
- Karl-Heinz Marotzke (Germany) – 1970-1971; 1974
- Jorge Penna (Brazil) – 1972-1973
- Jelisavčić ‘Father Tiko’ Tihomir (Yugoslavia) – 1974-1978
- Otto Glória (Brazil) – 1979-1982
- Gottlieb Göller (Germany) – 1981
- Adegboye Onigbinde (Nigeria) – 1983-1984; 2002
- Chris Udemezue (Nigeria) – 1984-1986
- Patrick Ekeji (Nigeria) – 1985
- Paul Hamilton (Nigeria) – 1987; 1989
- Manfred Höner (Germany) – 1988-1989
- Clemens Westerhof (Netherlands) – 1989-1994
- Amodu Shaibu (Nigeria) – 1994-1995; 1996-1997; 2001-2002; 2008-2010
- Johannes Bonfrere (Netherlands) – 1995-1996; 1999-2001
- Philippe Troussier (France) – 1997
- Monday Sinclair (Nigeria) – 1997-1998
- Bora Milutinović (Yugoslavia) – 1998
- Thijs Libregts (Netherlands) – 1999
- Christian Chukwu (Nigeria) – 2002-2005
- Augustine Eguavoen (Nigeria) – 2005-2007; 2010; 2022
- Berti Vogts (Germany) – 2007-2008
- Lars Lagerbäck (Sweden) – 2010
- Samson Siasia (Nigeria) – 2010-2011; 2016
- Stephen Keshi (Nigeria) – 2011-2014; 2015
- Sunday Oliseh (Nigeria) – 2015-2016
- Gernot Rohr (Germany) – 2016-2021
- José Peseiro (Portugal) – 2022-2024
- Finidi George (Nigeria) – 2024
- Éric Sékou Chelle (France) – 2025-?
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Éric Sékou Chelle, the Malian new manager of the Super Eagles has promised to turn the fluctuating fortunes of the team around.
Chelle at his unveiling as the 42nd manager ever to handle the Nigerian lead football brand, remarked that the Nigerian team will be transformed into a goal-scoring outfit.
Picking his English, as he appears to be reading from a written message, the former centre-back footballer remarked: “Football is about scoring goals…and that is what will happen in the Super Eagles…”
In reality, the Nigeria national team, despite the glut of attackers spread across many fields in Europe, has been struggling with goal-scoring.
In nine successive matches, since the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, the Super Eagles only two matches were won by more than one goal margin.
They got to the final match of the last Africa Cup of Nations, playing defensively and depending on occasional forays upfront. In one of the matches that the Super Eagles played, Chelle led Mali to beat Nigeria 2-0. It was the first time in 50 years that Mali ever beat Nigeria.
Chelle’s most important assignment will be putting Nigeria’s World Cup qualification back on course when the series resumes in March.
Nigeria will on March 17 be away to table-topper, Rwanda.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
While Jose Peseiro was the first Portuguese to handle the Nigerian national team, another milestone will be reached this Monday as
Éric Chelle will be unveiled as the 42nd person to handle the Nigerian national team since September 1949 when England’s John Finch became the ad hoc coach of Nigeria’s first national selection.
Chelle, 47, will be the first-ever non-Nigerian African to handle the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles. He is a Malian, although still qualifies to hold citizenship of France where his father comes from and where he played his club football, he could also be an Ivoirian, as he was born in Cote d’Ivoire.
Although it has become conventional for football powers to hand over their national teams to citizens, there has been a paradigm shift.
Even conservative England, with a long tradition as a football nation, is having its third foreign manager after the Swedish Sven-Göran Eriksson, Italian Fabio Capello and now Germany’s Thomas Tuchel.
Nigeria’s Stephen Keshi similarly coached Togo and Mali and was on the verge of getting a job as Guinea’s manager when he died.
According to a media release by the NFF, Éric Sékou Chelle will be formally unveiled to the public at the Media Conference Room of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, by 11 am.
NFF chief, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, reportedly remarked on Sunday that the Franco-Malian coach embodies the fresh energy, new thinking and positive attitude with which the Federation desire the Super Eagles to confront their remaining six matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
“We appreciate the fact that Nigerians are very passionate about the game of football, and that is the reason for the different tones of reactions following the appointment of Coach Chelle.
“However, the NFF hereby appeals to Nigerians to come together and support him, as we believe he has the qualities to achieve success with the Super Eagles.
“The NFF will give him all the support that he needs to succeed in the job.”
At Monday’s unveiling, the NFF will also disclose the names of Coach Chelle’s assistants, with the crew to shepherd the Super Eagles B at next month’s African Nations Championship in East Africa, before focusing squarely on the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, beginning with the matches against Rwanda (away) and Zimbabwe (home) in March.
Chelle, who took Mali’s Aiglons within breathing distance of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, left his job at top Algerian side, Mouloudia Club of Oran (MC Oran) – 1989 African Champions’ Cup finalists – to team up with the Super Eagles.
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