NFF Appoints Éric Chelle as New Super Eagles Head Coach

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

Chelle becomes the third coach to lead the team since José Peseiro’s resignation in March 2024.

The announcement, made on Tuesday, follows the endorsement of Chelle by the NFF’s Technical and Development Sub-Committee and its Executive Committee. NFF President Ibrahim Gusau confirmed that the Malian coach’s tenure would commence immediately.

Chelle will debut as head coach with the home-based Super Eagles at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled to take place in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda from February 1 to 28. Gusau emphasized the importance of the CHAN tournament as a platform for discovering local talent for the senior national team.

“We want whoever takes charge to start immediately and utilize the CHAN Eagles as an opportunity to identify players who can contribute to the senior team,” Gusau said.

The Super Eagles B team, under the temporary management of coaches Daniel Ogunmodede, Fidelis Ilechukwu, and goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa, has been preparing for the tournament at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

Chelle, a former Mali international with five caps, brings a wealth of coaching experience, having led clubs like GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran. As Mali’s national team coach since 2022, he narrowly missed a semi-final spot at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where his team lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast in extra time.

Beyond CHAN, Chelle faces the crucial task of reviving the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification campaign. Nigeria currently sits in fifth place in their qualifying group, with the next round of matches set for March.

This appointment marks a new chapter for the Super Eagles, with fans hopeful that Chelle’s leadership will bring success both at CHAN and on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.