Chelle to lead Super Eagles - Photo Courtesy NFF Media.
The appointment of Éric Sekou Chelle as the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles has drawn mixed reactions across the West African nation.
A statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the hiring of the Malian coach.
“At its meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, 2nd January 2025, the NFF Technical and Development Sub-Committee had recommended the appointment of former Coach of the senior men national team of Mali as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles. This recommendation was on Tuesday, 7th January endorsed by the NFF Executive Committee,” read part of the statement.
However, a section of Nigerians have castigated NFF for the decision saying the hiring will not help solve the problems facing the Super Eagles while others believe it was the right decision.
Niyi Adebola opened the debate by saying: “NFF are a bundle of disappointment, why can't they keep Eguavoen at the moment of qualifying for the World Cup? In fact they are the problem of Nigeria football and I have my reasons which I won’t share here…as big as Nigeria, NFF will be playing with our football. What a pity?”
Adebola’s sentiments were echoed by Columbus Ademola Nuel, who said: “The NFF is just so clueless, you mean you appoint a coach with a 45% winning percentage to coach the Super Eagles?….What a joke!”
Jerry Norsip Odung called on Nigeria to forget about qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
“Just forget about World Cup qualification. Even the players will be very surprised at NFF for this appointment and won’t regard anything NFF to put in their best for qualification. Siasia has achieved more than this guy in global football."
“I don't support the appointment, what happened to our Augustine [Eguavoen]?” questioned Shepherd Selberacad while Confidence Ileera quipped: “This is the most useless and timid appointment I have ever seen. NFF is a bundle of disgrace, many Nigerian coaches such as Samson Siasia, Emmanuel Amunike can do a better job."
“Can you put Mali and Nigeria in the same sentence currently in World football? Shame on NFF for gambling with our precious Super Eagles. History will not be kind to those who want to ridicule Nigerian football.”
Meanwhile, a few Nigerians supported the appointment with Abel Onuh Joseph stating: “This man tactics are good and our player’s will enjoy him very well," while Chris Eje wrote: “As Nigerians we will trust and support this decision regardless of Chelle being an unknown quantity, we will support and be critique when we need to but with hope that this decision take our beloved Super Eagles of Nigeria to triumphs upon triumphs in the AFCON and World Cup.”
Akanji Emmanuel Ola said: “He is a great tactician, he surprised everybody during the last AFCON even though luck was not on his side against Ivory Coast at the quarter-final. With the quality of players Nigeria has now, I strongly believe the team will excel.”
Jude Innocent said: “May the coach succeed. Don’t be surprised, he will do well with the Super Eagles. Let’s all rally round him, give him the needed support. He will do well.
“Nothing bad in his appointment, our local coaches are selfish and full of personality in the selection of players. Wishing the new coach the best,” concluded Olamide Immanuel.
Chelle, who won five caps for the Aiglons of Mali and coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne and MC Oran, has been Head Coach of the Aiglons since 2022.
At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire, Chelle’s Mali came very close to a place in the semi-finals, losing to hosts and eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 after extra time, after leading by a lone goal until the final minute of regulation time.
The 47-year-old featured for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career.
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