Éric Chelle appointed head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, following a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee.

The endorsement was finalized by the NFF Executive Committee during a meeting held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

Chelle, a former Malian international with five caps, brings a wealth of coaching experience, having previously managed GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran.

Most recently, he served as the Head Coach of Mali’s senior national team, a position he held since 2022. Under his guidance, Mali performed admirably at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, narrowly missing out on a semi-final berth after a dramatic 2-1 extra-time loss to the hosts and eventual champions.

During his playing career, the 47-year-old Chelle represented French clubs Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais, gaining valuable experience that he has since translated into his coaching roles.

Chelle’s appointment takes immediate effect, with his primary task being to secure a spot for the Super Eagles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

The next round of World Cup qualifying matches, Matchdays 5 and 6, is scheduled for March 2025, marking the beginning of Chelle’s journey to lead Nigeria to global football prominence.