The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the head coach of the Nigerian national team, making him the 37th coach to hold this position.
Chelle expressed his honor in taking on the role and his gratitude for the opportunity.
Next month, Chelle will lead the Super Eagles B team at the CHAN tournament, set to take place in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Following that, he will take charge of the senior national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Chelle shared that the Super Eagles had been his favorite team since childhood. He also revealed his admiration for some of Nigeria’s greatest football icons, highlighting three legendary players in particular: Christian Chukwu, the 1980 AFCON-winning captain; Victor Ikpeba, the 1997 African Footballer of the Year; and Daniel Amokachi, a two-time Belgian Ebony Shoes Award winner.
Chelle pledged to transform Nigeria into an attack-oriented team. His track record with Mali supports this promise. Under his management, Mali scored over 40 goals in 22 matches, secured 14 victories, and reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 AFCON. Mali’s run ended in extra time against the eventual champions, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Super Eagles have had a poor start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, currently sitting fifth in their group. With Chelle at the helm, Nigeria aims to top the group and secure qualification for the tournament.