The Nigeria Football Federation has officially introduced Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
The unveiling ceremony took place on Monday at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, with sports enthusiasts and stakeholders in attendance to welcome the 47-year-old Franco-Malian coach.
Chelle’s appointment was confirmed last Tuesday by the NFF Executive Committee, following a recommendation from the Technical and Development Committee.
Speaking at the event, NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau urged Nigerians to support Chelle, emphasizing his confidence in the coach’s ability to lead the team to success.
“We appreciate the fact that Nigerians are very passionate about football, which is why there have been different reactions following the appointment of Coach Chelle,” Gusau said.
“However, the NFF appeals to Nigerians to come together and support him, as we believe he has the qualities to achieve success with the Super Eagles.”
Gusau also assured the coach of the Federation’s full support to ensure he achieves his goals.
“The NFF will give him all the support that he needs to succeed in the job,” he added.
Chelle’s first task as head coach will be to lead the Super Eagles B team at the upcoming African Nations Championship in East Africa next month.
Following that, he will oversee the Super Eagles’ campaign in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, starting with critical matches against Rwanda (away) and Zimbabwe (home) in March.
Chelle brings a wealth of coaching experience to his new role. He previously led Mali’s Aiglons close to the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Before accepting the Super Eagles position, he managed Algerian club MC Oran, guiding the team to notable performances.
In his remarks at the unveiling, Chelle expressed his excitement about the new challenge and called for unity in achieving the team’s goals. “I’m honored to lead a team with such history and potential. Together, we can achieve great things,” he said.
