OFFICIAL: Eric Chelle unveiled as new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially unveiled Eric Sekou Chelle as the new permanent head coach of the Super Eagles.

The announcement was made during a special ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Monday afternoon.

Chelle, a 47-year-old Franco-Malian coach, takes over as the third coach of the Super Eagles since the departure of Portuguese manager Jose Peseiro. His appointment follows recommendations from the NFF’s Technical and Development Committee.

As the new head coach, Chelle’s main tasks will be leading the team in the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) in East Africa and guiding them through the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. Nigeria will face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March as part of their World Cup qualifiers.

Chelle has a solid coaching background, having achieved notable success with the Mali national team, including reaching the quarter-finals at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The NFF took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news, describing Chelle’s appointment as a “new dawn” for the Super Eagles. “The Super Eagles have a new coach,” the post read. “Eric Sekou Chelle is the new coach of the Super Eagles. A new dawn is here.”

While Chelle’s appointment has received mixed reactions from fans, some of whom have questioned his foreign nationality and coaching experience, the NFF is hopeful that his fresh approach and ability to develop young talent will benefit the team. The federation has urged Nigerians to support the new coach as he looks to bring new ideas and energy to the Super Eagles.

Chelle’s experience, particularly his work with Mali, is seen as an asset as the Super Eagles look to strengthen their squad for upcoming challenges.