By Dansu Peter The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle, former head coach of Mali’s national team, as the ne...
By Dansu Peter
The announcement was made on Tuesday, following NFF President Ibrahim Gusau's earlier indication that a new coach would be named 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’s national football team, Super Eagles," the NFF revealed in an official statement.
The appointment was formally approved at an NFF Executive Committee meeting held on January 7, 2025, following a recommendation by the Technical and Development Sub-Committee during its session in Abuja on January 2.
Chelle's tenure begins with the home-based Super Eagles' participation in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled to take place in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda from February 1-28. NFF President Gusau emphasized the importance of the new coach integrating local talent into the senior team.
“We want whoever takes charge of the team to start immediately, which is why we have a policy that the same coach manages the CHAN Eagles. This ensures that the coach has firsthand exposure to home-based players and can identify talents to bolster the senior national team,” Gusau explained.
The Super Eagles B team is currently training 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. This coaching team successfully led Nigeria through the CHAN qualifiers, including a decisive victory over Ghana.
Chelle, who earned five caps for Mali during his playing career, has an impressive coaching résumé. He has managed clubs like GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran. Since 2022, he has been in charge of Mali's national team, the Aiglons.
Under his leadership, Mali reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), narrowly missing a semi-final spot after a dramatic 2-1 extra-time loss to eventual champions Ivory Coast.
One of Chelle’s immediate challenges will be guiding the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team currently sits in fifth place in their qualifying group, with crucial matches scheduled for March.
Chelle’s appointment signals a new chapter for Nigerian football, as fans and stakeholders hope for improved performances and a return to global prominence under his stewardship.
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