NFF Appoints Eric Chelle As New Super Eagles Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Malian coach Éric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team.

Chelle’s appointment was confirmed by the NFF on Tuesday, hours after President Ibrahim Gasau mentioned in a video, following a recommendation by its Technical and Development Sub-Committee and endorsement by the NFF Executive Committee.

The 48-year-old Malian coach will take charge of the Super Eagles immediately, starting with the home-based team’s participation in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

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“The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of Mr. Éric Sékou Chelle as Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, Super Eagles.

“At its meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, January 2, 2025, the NFF Technical and Development Sub-Committee recommended the appointment of the former head coach of Mali’s senior men’s national team as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. This recommendation was endorsed by the NFF Executive Committee on Tuesday, January 7,” the NFF said in a statement.

According to NFF president Gusau, Chelle’s work will begin immediately with the home-based Super Eagles at the 2024 African Nations Championship in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, where Nigeria will compete with 17 other countries from February 1-28.

“We are all concerned and we want whoever takes charge of the team to start immediately, which is why we have a policy that the same coach will manage the CHAN Eagles. So, you cannot have the opportunity to manage a team made up of home-based players and, at the end of the tournament, come back and tell us that you don’t see one or two players who could be injected into the senior national team,” Gusau said.

The Super Eagles B are currently in camp at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne under the guidance of Remo Stars Coach Daniel Ogunmodede, Rangers International’s Fidelis Ilechukwu, and goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa, who led the team through the qualifiers against Ghana.

Chelle, who earned five caps for Mali’s national team, has also coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran. He has been the head coach of the Aiglons since 2022.

At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals, Chelle’s Mali came very close to a semi-final spot, losing to hosts and eventual winners Ivory Coast 2-1 after extra time, having led by a single goal until the final minute of regulation time.

Another challenge awaiting him will be guiding the Eagles to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, with the team currently sitting in fifth place in their qualifying group ahead of the next round of matches in March.