- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former Mali National team manager, Éric Chelle as Super Eagles new Head Coach.
This was announced in a statement issued on the Federation’s X handle on Tuesday.
According to the statement, The NFF Executive Committee, in a meeting held today, 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 national football team, Super Eagles.
The Technical Committee had at its meeting held in Abuja last week recommended the appointment of the Malian coach as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
This recommendation was on Tuesday, 7th January endorsed by the NFF Executive Committee.
Chelle, as profiled by he NFF, earned five national team appearances for Mali during his playing days before his appointment as the Algions’ head coach in 2022.
During his playing times, he enjoyed stints at several clubs in France which include Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais.
Prior to the appointment as Mali National team coach in 2022, Chelle’s coaching career had seen him manage clubs such as such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne and MC Oran.
Mali’s impressive campaign at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), where Chelle led them to the quarterfinals, appeared to have caught the fancy of the NFF Board.
The Malian’s appointment would see him replace Caretaker manager, Augustine Eguavoen, who earned the Super Eagles a spot in the forthcoming 2025 AFCON tournament.
Chelle is now billed to guide the Nigerian National team to a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The statement read in part;”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 national football team, Super Eagles.
“At its meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, 2nd January 2025, the NFF Technical and Development Sub-Committee had recommended the appointment of former Coach of the senior men national team of Mali as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles. This recommendation was on Tuesday, 7th January endorsed by the NFF Executive Committee.
“Chelle, who won five caps for the Aiglons of Mali and coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne and MC Oran, has been Head Coach of the Aiglons since 2022.
“At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire, Chelle’s Mali came very close to a place in the semi-finals, losing to hosts and eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 after extra time, after leading by a lone goal until the final minute of regulation time.
“The 47-year-old featured for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career.”
“His appointment is with immediate effect, and he has the responsibility of guiding the Super Eagles to earn a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, with the next round of matches (Matchdays 5 & 6) taking place in March.”