Despite Outcry NFF Unveil Eric Chelle As Head Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially unveiled Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles on January 13. The announcement was made during a media briefing at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, where Chelle was introduced as the 42nd substantive coach of the national team.

Chelle’s appointment follows a recommendation from the NFF’s Technical and Development Committee. The 47-year-old, who is a former Mali international, becomes the third coach to take the helm of the Super Eagles since the departure of Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro.

Chelle and his coaching staff are tasked with preparing the Super Eagles B team for the upcoming African Nations Championship, which will be held in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda next month. After the championship, the focus will shift to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, with games scheduled against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.

Since the announcement, opinions have been divided, with some questioning the decision to hire a coach from outside Nigeria, especially considering the pool of Nigerian candidates available.

The decision of the NFF to unveil Chelle despite criticism underscored the federation’s determination to stick to the unpopular choice.

Chelle’s transition to this role was not without challenges, as he had a two-year contract with MC Oran, a club he had been with since October 2024. His departure from Mali’s national team came in July 2024 after a successful stint. In his final match with MC Oran, Chelle led the team to a 1-0 win in the Algerian Cup. After that victory, he discussed his future with the club’s management, ultimately leading to his new appointment with the Super Eagles.

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