Eric Chelle during his playing days featured for teams like Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais in France
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Malian tactician, Eric Chelle as the head coach of the Super Eagles.
His appointment was confirmed by the NFF on Tuesday, hours after president Ibrahim Gusau in another video had said the appointment would be soon.
“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 national football team, Super Eagles,” NFF said in a statement.
“At its meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, January 2, 2025, the NFF Technical and Development Sub-Committee had recommended the appointment of the 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.”
The 47-year-old’s appointment takes effect immediately, and he is responsible for guiding the Super Eagles to earn a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
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The Malian’s first task will be the next round of games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March. Nigeria are currently fifth in Group C of the qualifier. The team is also winless after four games.
Eric Chelle is the first-ever non-Nigerian African to be named the head coach of the Eagles.
He was Mali’s head coach at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He led the team to the quarter-final, where the country lost to the hosts in extra time.
He had only managed a slew of clubs in the lower rungs of French football, like GS Consolat, FC Martigues, and Boulogne, before he joined Mali in 2022.
During his playing days, he featured five times for the Malian senior men’s national team. He also spells at teams like Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais in France.
