The Super Eagles cannot afford any more slips in 2026 World Cup qualifiers beginning with next month’s games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, according to defender Leon Balogun.
Nigeria are now in danger of missing out on next year’s World Cup as they are second from bottom in Group C with three points from four matches.
“We are precarious position (in the World Cup qualifiers) so we cannot afford to lose points again,” the experienced defender insisted.
“Therefore, maximum concentration and the highest level of performance are required.”
The Rangers star also dismissed reports that he has quit international football.
“Sorry to be a bit harsh there, maybe, but it’s out there. And I just said it to you myself. Those claims are, how do we like to say nowadays? Fake news,” he declared.
At least two chartered flights will reportedly depart from Nigeria for next month’s must-win 2026 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali.
The flights will carry fans, officials as well as major stakeholders of Nigeria football.
“The Super Eagles will get maximum support right inside the stadium in Kigali as at least two chartered flights will be taken to Rwanda,” a top official told SCORENigeria. “We’re not leaving anything to chance to ensure we get all three points in Rwanda.”
Super Eagles will face the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia at the group stage of the AFCON 2025 in Morocco with a new head coach after they made an official announcement, confirming the appointment of Samir Trabelsi as their new head coach.
The 57-year-old former international player, has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Carthage Eagles once again, having previously coached the team from 2011 to 2013. His extensive experience and familiarity with Tunisian football made him an ideal candidate for the role.
In an official statement released on their Facebook page, the federation formally announced Trabelsi’s appointment, marking the beginning of a new era for the national team.
As a renowned figure in Tunisian football, Trabelsi brings a wealth of experience to the role, both as a player and a coach. His previous stint as national team coach was marked by success, including a victory in the CHAN tournament.
The Tunisian Football Federation’s decision to appoint Trabelsi comes after the departure of former coach Faouzi Benzarti, one of the most respected managers in the country, whose contract was terminated amicably in October, after just five months at the helm.
Trabelsi takes over the reins of the national team at a crucial juncture, with Tunisia aiming to qualify for the FIFA World Cup and secure continental glory in the AFCON 2025 taking place in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.
The appointment of Sami Trabelsi as Tunisia’s coach comes almost one month after the announcement of Eric Chelle as the Super Eagles’ new coach, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter between the two teams at the AFCON.
Nigeria and Tunisia are slated to complete in Group C, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, promising an exciting clash of tactics between Trabelsi and Chelle as they seek to secure glory for their respective nations in Morocco.
Ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, former Nigeria International Mobi Oparaku said the Super Eagles risk qualification if they fail to play as a team against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria’s chances of winning the automatic Group C ticket hangs in the balance after taking just three points in their opening four matches and Oparaku believes results of the next two matches in March could decide the fate of the Super Eagles.
Oparaku, a soccer gold medal winner with the national U-23 team at Atlanta 1996 Olympics, said the Super Eagles can get back their mojo in the race for a ticket to next year’s Mundial if they play with a unity of purpose.
“ When they come out (next month) they should not come out as individuals playing for Nigeria but they should come out as a team that is representing Nigeria,” the 48-year-old who featured at the France 1998 with the Super Eagles, said in an interview aired on Brila Fm.“ There is a different between a player that comes to represent the Super Eagles and a team of players that come out to represent Nigeria.
“ When they come out as a team that represents the country, we can then talk about what they have but not as individuals.
“ But when we speak about individuals, it means we don’t have a team but I hope this new coach (Eric Sekou Chelle) would be able to pull the team together and play like a gang for the world Cup qualifiers.”
Meanwhile, coach Chelle along with his first assistant Hedi Taboubi, is reportedly in England to meet with Premier League stars like Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi ahead of next month’s must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
They will talk with the players on how the Super Eagles will approach these two qualifiers and what is expected of them both on and off the pitch.
“Eric is working quietly and with a clear direction,” a reliable source told SCORENigeria
Nigeria will be away to Rwanda on March 21 and host Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in the march double header. Rwanda are top of Group C with seven points ahead of South Africa and Benin, who also have same number of points but inferior goals difference. Lesotho are fourth on five points, while the Super Eagles are fifth with three points. Zimbabwe are bottom of the standings on two points after four rounds of matches.
Nigeria Football Federation Head of Technical Department, Austin Eguavoen has disclosed that in as much as the Super Eagles qualify for any major tournament, they will always be among the teams to beat.
Eguavoen disclosed that Super Eagles pedigree and the current form of its players in Europe make it difficult to overlook Nigeria and that he is optimistic about the chances of the team in Morocco later in the year at the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The e former Super Eagles’ captain and coach, however, noted that Nigeria must be wary of their opponents in Group C if they want to progress in the competition.
“On paper, Super Eagles look very good in Group C. The AFCON draw is okay for Nigeria on paper. The team must prove it on the field,” Eguavoen disclosed. “Nothing is easy, especially in the world of sports, football to be precise. If you don’t prepare very well, you will get a shocking defeat.
“If you want to be champion, you should be ready to play any team and win. No more minors in football.
“Personally, i am happy with the AFCON draw, the players, the Federation are equally happy.
“It is up to us to plan very well, prepare very well for and do the job by taking it game after game,” he said.
In a related development, former striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has backed newly coach Eric Chelle to turn the Super Eagles around.
Emenike, a 2013 AFCON winner, believes that Chelle has what it takes to succeed with Nigeria, adding the Franco-Malian is condemned to prove his mettle.
“I think he (Chelle) will do well because he has a lot of things to prove. They left a lot of local coaches to employ him. I believe he has so much and a lot to offer the country,” Emenike who scored nine goals for the Super Eagles , said.
He also stated that Chelle has a lot of good and game-winning players in the squad who will go on to make things easier for him.
“We have a lot of players who can win games. Osimhen can win games, he’s a fighter. We have Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and many more in the team who can win games. I believe that with a little bit of hard work and if they can tell themselves the truth, they can go far.”
Speaking on Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Emenike said the possibility of qualifying is 50-50.
“I will go 50-50 for that. We’re in a very shaky situation,” the Fenerbahce legend said.
Drawn against Tunisia and two East African ‘lightweights’ Tanzania and Uganda in the Preliminary Group C of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, stakeholders are unanimous that it’s about time the Super Eagles win Nigeria’s long awaited fourth continental trophy. Winners on home soil in 1980, the fabled Nigeria’s senior national team also conquered the continent at Tunisia 1994 and South Africa 2013. To break the barriers in Morocco, the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) have been enjoined to provide the needed fillip for the Super Eagles now under the watch of Franco-Malian coach Eric Sekou Chelle, writes TUNDE LIADI…
Former Nigeria International goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, has counselled the current Super Eagles against any form of complacency in their bid to go all the way at the forthcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco despite been drawn in what looks on paper, a decent First Round group complete with the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia as well as the Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Cranes of Uganda.
Shorunmu, Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea & Japan, said African football continues to be on the rise everyday consequently that it would be wrong for anyone to underrate Nigeria’s Group C opponents, adding all the 24 teams would be starting on ‘ground zero’ irrespective of past achievements at past AFCONs.
He, therefore, enjoined the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take the preparations of the team seriously while noting that with the calibre of players and the choice of coach Eric Sekou Chelle, the chances of the Super Eagles’ for a fourth continental title in Morocco is bright .
“There is no any small country anymore in tournaments. If you don’t prepare very well, they will shock you. Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda are almost the same in level because things are changing and we don’t need to think of years back that we are champions,” the former Zurich FC of Switzerland goalkeeper stated. “This is a new ball game and we need to prepare very well. We have a good team and I am sure we will do well with the new coach we have.
Currently the goalkeepers’ trainer at Abia Warriors, Shorunmu has equally called for patience for the new Super Eagles coach Eric Sekou Chelle as he urged fans to continue to lower their expectations ahead of AFCON.
“This is a new coach and we haven’t seen how his philosophy would be with our terrain here. Let’s wait and see when he takes over the team fully he would now know the strength of our team and whether we have the potential to go further than the last time we did in Cote d’Ivoire,” he added.
Shorunmu’s views were equally shared by Super Eagles skipper to the 2013 AFCON, Joseph Yobo .
He believes Nigeria will qualify from the knockout phase of the 2025 AFCON but reckoned the team’s overall success hinges on starting the opening first three matches on a good footing.
“We do have a very good team and the players are improving. We have a good set of players and they showed that at the last AFCON. Looking at the group, it is never going to be easy but we know that the Super Eagles will come out of the group without much problem,” Yobo, who was one of the Draw Assistants in Rabat on Monday, stated.
“I hope that we start very well and build on that momentum to the final. We must build on our last performance at the last AFCON. It is about time we got our hands again on the AFCON trophy. We have a good set of players and an amazing coach to do that.”
Similarly, erstwhile Golden Eaglets’ captain and coach, Nduka Ugbade, has urged the Super Eagles to pay attention to details and not underrate any of their group’s foes so that they do not get the results they never wished for.
He noted that though the Super Eagles are one of the teams to beat in the group, they must work extra hard to merit a knockout ticket.
“It is a good draw for Nigeria. It is not that too difficult but you must consider some of the situations in Africa that the game has improved a lot and a lot of things are in the game now,” Ugbade, who led Nigeria to claim the maiden FIFA Under-16 World Cup in Beijing, China, said. “Nigeria should be able to perform very well but I am not going to rule out even the smallest team on paper, Tanzania from being able to spring a surprise. Nigeria should be able to qualify but we have to work to merit that. You don’t qualify by word of mouth.”
Meanwhile, one-time Super Eagles left back, Ifeanyi Udeze, has admonished the current senior national team to target winning the fourth African title in Morocco after the near miss last year in Cote d’Ivoire.
“It is about time we tried to see if we can win the trophy again. I am not afraid of any team in the group be it Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania,” Udeze said. “We must first strive to come out of the group before we start talking about the knock out round.”
The NFF’s General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, has acknowledged that the Eagles loss to Tunisia in the round of 16 at the delayed 2021 AFCON , should serve as eye opener that the coach Chelle-led side cannot afford to count their chicks until they are hatched.
Recalled that the Super Eagles won all their opening three group games in Cameroon but were stopped in the Round of 16 against Tunisia against all expectations.
Sanusi opined that he learned a great deal from the Cameroon experience and are ready to leave no stone unturned in their resolve to ensure the Eagles excel in Morocco.
“In football you cannot underrate any team these days. I am happy with the group but I see it as a serious wakeup call because we knew what happened to us in Cameroon in 2022 against Tunisia in the Round of 16,” Dr Sanusi said. “We are aware of the task ahead of us. I can say that we are comfortable but we are not going to take our opponents for granted though we may be comfortable with their style of play.”
Yet former Kano Pillars defensive midfielder, Gabriel Reuben, has challenged the Super Eagles to hit the ground running in Morocco to show their intent to win their fourth African title.
Reuben who was a member of the victorious team at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa , said though the Super Eagles are the top horse in the group alongside Tunisia, they must still be wary of Tanzania and Uganda.
“The draw has been made and if you want to win AFCON you have to win all your games irrespective of the opposition. I think we know the Tunisians but the Ugandans and Tanzanians, we must be scared of them because football is not one plus one.
“There are no underdogs in football and we must take all the games seriously. It is what we make us to qualify because it is not just about having a good team.”
But Cranes of Uganda’s head coach, Paul Put , has admitted that they would be up against tough opposition in the class of Nigeria, Tunisia while not discountenance the solidity of their neighbours, Tanzania.
Put, a Belgian and a former coach of Burkina Faso, enthused about preparing a team ready to face any African opposition in December.
“We are up against tough opponents. Tunisians and Nigeria are former champions of AFCON and Tanzania too are not too far off,” Put disclosed. “I think we have to believe in ourselves and prepare very well for the competition. We have to play better than our abilities.”
Similarly, Cranes’ forward Dennis Omedi said he was looking forward to playing at the AFCON , adding the East Africans won’t be making up the numbers in Morocco.
“I believe in Uganda’s Cranes players and no one should think we will be at the AFCON to make up the numbers. Omedi said. “I believe we are going to get out of this group and if we fight so hard and believe in ourselves we could take the team as far as possible in Morocco.
“We shall take the game one after the other starting with Tunisia and then Tanzania before the game with Nigeria. The focus should be on the first game because in every tournament what is most important is how you begin it.
“If you begin in a good way it gives you the momentum and it will send signals to the rest of your group opponents and it gives you an upper hand.”
That notwithstanding, former Super Eagles attacker, Benedict Akwuegbu, has expressed optimism that Nigeria can win the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Akwuegbu said the calibre of players we have in Europe should send fears down the spines of the Eagles foes in Morocco.
“We have a big chance to win the 2025 AFCON because our players are in top form especially Osimhen, Lookman who just won the CAF Player of Year award,” Akwuegbu stated. “Simon Moses is also doing very well in France. I am optimistic we will win the AFCON.”
Nevertheless, Super Eagles Team Coordinator, Patrick Pascal, has warned about the dangers of underrating any team at the forthcoming 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
“The group stage is there for teams to fight and qualify because in Cote ‘d’Ivoire last year all the top seeds people we were talking about all crashed out early,” Pascal said. “We need absolute concentration to qualify from the group we are in. There is nothing like small countries in Africa again. We cannot underestimate any team.”
Speaking in the same vein, former Super Eagles midfielder, Friday Ekpo, has charged Nigeria’s senior national team to work their way out of the group stage, adding good preparation would aid team’s superb performance in Morocco.
“Every group is tough. It takes a lot for any team to qualify. We must work our way out,” Ekpo said. “Build our team towards the upcoming AFCON. We have ample time to do a thorough job before the start of the AFCON.”
90 Countries including Nigeria to watch Draws live
Newly appointed Super Eagles coach Eric Sekou Chelle as well as erstwhile Nigeria’s trainer Gernot Rohr will be in the mix today as the long- awaited Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) 2025 Final Draw holds today in Rabat, Morocco.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) hinted at the weekend that the Super Eagles’ contingent to the Draw slated for the iconic Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat includes Chelle along with Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor and Chairman of NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa.
Rohr who ensured qualification of neighbouring Republic of Benin, told NationSports he will grace the occasion even as the organisers, CAF, confirmed yesterday that no fewer than 20 coaches along with notable African football legends are already in Rabat for the auspicious event.
Set to kick off at 7pm Nigerian time, three time African champions, Nigeria have been placed in Pot 1, alongside seven-time winners Egypt, three-time champions and Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire, two-time winners Algeria, hosts and 1976 champions Morocco and 2021 winners Senegal.
The draw will determine the composition of six groups of four teams, with the top two in each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout rounds.
According to CAF, those already in Rabat also include Emerse Faé who led the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire to glory on home soil at the expense of the Super Eagles at the delayed 2023 AFCON Final. There is also Pape Thiaw, who will guide Senegal in his first AFCON as head coach, and Vladimir Petković, tasked with reviving Algeria’s fortunes after a dip in recent years.
Legends expected in audience include Cameroon’s Rigobert Song who holds the record for most AFCON matches played as well as Essam El Hadary, the record-setting Egyptian goalkeeper.
There are also Morocco’s own Mustapha Hadji and Côte d’Ivoire’s Serge Aurier and among other heavyweight dignitaries.
In a related development, CAF said more than 90 countries, including in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North and South America will watch the Final Draw of the AFCON 2025 tonight.
Leading the global broadcasters are CAF’s traditional partners, beIN Sport (MENA, Europe, America, South Pacific), Canal+, SABC, Azam Media, AfroSport, Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, SNRT, DAZN and many others.
It will also be streamed live on CAF official website, CAFONLINE.COM and CAFTV (YouTube).
The Draw will be live on the Free to Air Platforms of 46 African countries, including all the 24 participating nations, thus ensuring access for fans.
The AFCON Morocco 2025 will hold between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026.
AFCON 2025 DRAWS: THE POTS
Pot 1: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire
Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso
Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin Republic
Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
Listening to NFF President Ibrahim Gusau pledge the federation’s commitments to ensure Eric Chelle succeeds as the Super Eagles, I thought I was dreaming. As a person, Gusau keeps to the few words he mutters. But when he speaks on NFF matters, he reads a script. I’m reluctant to hold him to what he read at the ceremony because it was the board’s decision. Make no mistake, Gusua is knowledgeable. He can discuss off the cuff.
When Gusau spoke penultimate Monday in Abuja at Chelle’s unveiling, he showed that he was a good student of history. He gave nothing away. His utterances were guided. Native intelligence.
According to Gusau: “I see in the new Head Coach the right spirit and the right attitude, and I have faith that he will take the Super Eagles to the next level. He sees the job of leading the Super Eagles as his dream job, and that is a huge motivation in itself.
“Coach Chelle recognises and appreciates what is ahead of him, and he says he loves the challenge. We will be there giving him the necessary support all the way,” Gusau said.
Indeed, I won’t delve into Chelle’s promises to change the Eagles’ 2026 World Cup fortunes. I didn’t expect anything less. Rather, I would wince to ask if Chelle would have the balls to plead with his employers and those agbada wearing government officials who crowd the team’s dressing room at half time, to remain seated at the State Box area. Give the coach space to discuss with his boys, and the time to identify their flaws and get to hear on the way forward.
In the past, these government functionaries led by the NFF people, crowded the dressing room at the interval, giving the coach no time to discuss his countertactics based on what he had seen in the first half. The 15 minutes allocated for pep talks isn’t always enough because these people take turns talking to the players and even the coaches. Can you beat that? The coach needs to have all of the stipulated 15 minutes set aside for half-time talks to his players to himself. Indeed, messages from well-meaning Nigerians such as telephone conversations with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be delivered to the boys via Zoom before the match, preferably in the hotel.
These are the biggest opponents that Chelle would have on match days not their opponents, especially if the Super Eagles have not scored a goal or are trailing with a goal or two (God forbid).
Chelle’s second obstacle would be the criteria for inviting players to prosecute the last six matches. Looking at the semblance of names on the players’ list when they are released gives this writer the impression that their invitations to the games are done by outsiders, not the team’s coaches. My fears become stronger when injured players are invited. It gets worse when benchwarmers populate the list as if we don’t watch European football matches in the 774 LGAs in Nigeria weekly. Even if we don’t watch European games weekly, they are available on YouTube to be downloaded if you choose that option.
Chelle’s third obstacle would start with the amount of control he would allow the NFF technical committee members to have in his team’s selection processes. Besides, would Chelle take instructions passed to him by his employers or government functionaries urging him to substitute a particular player or players not playing well in their naive opinion in a game?
Would Chelle allow his selection of players to be hijacked by agents or influencing peddling people? Chelle should make sure that agents are kept at bay and not allowed to mingle with the players in the hotel. These agents shouldn’t be given unfettered access to the team’s buses, especially, their itinerary. The team’s Chief Security Officer must be one who thinks on his feet. Movement in and around anywhere the Super Eagles delegation are spending time should be watertight in surveillance. Chelle should, in his interactions with the players in their different abodes in Europe, urge them to plead with their relations to stay away from the camp for maximum concentration considering the precarious placing of the country in her 2026 World Cup group.
Nigeria’s previous World Cup outings have been dogged by allegations of the easy access of all manner of visitors, with many of them eating and relaxing with them at the poolside.
Would Chelle introduce a Code of Conduct in his camp for his players as way of instilling discipline? Or would he cast an indulgent eye and say that they are adults who know what to do? Would he have the guts to be unsparing and fair in meting out justice?
Would there be a deadline to report to the camp? Would Chelle allow those extraneous issues such as delayed departure, bad weather, or the airline ‘untrue’ technical hitches influence his decisions? Who buys the players the flight tickets? NFF or the players? Answers to the question of who purchases the flight tickets would determine who decides when players should report to the camp. A situation where players buy their flight tickets with promises from the federation to refund creates the setting for them to report to camp as they wish without apologies for being late. Need I say that it is the major reason the team plays disjointedly during matches? The team only gets to train with its regulars 24 hours before the game.
Do we start to define to the NFF the reasons for paying players monies in which all the parties in the discussion agreed should be paid? So, how has it been possible for the critical partner in such discussions to renege on their role over 29 times? It is ridiculous to note that our players have on record outstanding bonuses and allowances of 29 matches, yet, they keep honouring the country’s invitations. How did we get to this disgraceful stage and no heads have rolled?
Why do we thrive in leaving things very late before they are done properly? It seems to me that this fire brigade approach to resolving sporting deficiencies benefits some people. We are always in one form of controversy or the other at the NFF, yet we expect corporate sponsorship. No chance. This cap in hand leaves sponsorship for sports at the doorsteps of the government. What a shame!
The biggest sporting brand in Nigeria should never be presented to the world with a beggarly status. Are Super Eagles being tagged big for nothing? It really hurts.
Those who have described the NFF as being toxic have their reasons. But are they? You tell me.
The NFF on January 7 announced the appointment of former Malian head coach, Éric Sékou Chelle as the new head coach for the Super Eagles, having sprouted reactions from different quarters, David Bolarinwa writes a brief history.
Brief History
Éric Sékou Chelle, born on November 11, 1977, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is a professional football manager and former player, currently serving as the head coach of the Nigeria national football team. Born to a French father and a Malian mother, Chelle holds Malian citizenship and represented Mali internationally, earning five caps between 2004 and 2006.
Playing Career
Chelle spent his entire club career in France, primarily as a center-back. He began his professional journey with FC Martigues (1998–2003), making 74 appearances.
He then moved to Valenciennes FC (2003–2008), where he played a pivotal role in the team’s promotion to Ligue 1, contributing 10 goals in 142 appearances.
His subsequent stints included RC Lens (2008–2011), with 82 appearances, FC Istres (2011–2013), and Chamois Niortais FC (2013–2014), culminating in a total of 375 club appearances and 11 goals.
Coaching Career
Transitioning into management, Coaching Éric Sékou Chelle’s coaching career reflects a steady rise through various managerial roles, showcasing his tactical acumen and ability to work with diverse teams. His experience spans club and national team levels, highlighting a trajectory marked by progressive challenges and achievements.
Early Coaching Beginnings
Chelle transitioned into coaching shortly after retiring from his playing career. His first major appointment was as an assistant coach at GS Consolat, a French third-tier club, from 2014 to 2016. His leadership qualities and understanding of defensive structures, honed during his playing days as a center-back, quickly earned him a promotion to head coach of the same club from 2016 to 2017.
Head Coach of FC Martigues (2017–2021)
In 2017, Chelle took charge of FC Martigues, a club where he had played during his early professional career. He spent four years rebuilding the team, implementing a disciplined defensive strategy and emphasizing youth development. His tenure at Martigues was noted for stabilizing the club and guiding them toward stronger performances in the French lower divisions.
US Boulogne (2021)
Chelle was appointed head coach of US Boulogne in May 2021, a French National team (third division). Despite taking over a team struggling for form, Chelle sought to instill a more organized defensive system. His time at Boulogne was short-lived, however, as he departed in December 2021 after a challenging start to the season.
Mali National Team Head Coach (2022–2024)
Chelle’s managerial reputation grew when he was appointed head coach of the Mali national football team in May 2022. Leading a talented but underperforming side, Chelle’s approach was marked by tactical flexibility and a focus on discipline.
He guided Mali to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Under his leadership, Mali exhibited defensive solidity and attacking efficiency but were eventually eliminated by Côte d’Ivoire, the host nation, in a closely contested match.
His stint with Mali ended in June 2024.
Brief Stint at MC Oran (2024)
In October 2024, Chelle was appointed head coach of MC Oran, a prominent club in Algeria. His time in Algeria was brief, lasting only a few months. His departure was prompted by a more significant opportunity to lead one of Africa’s most prestigious national teams, the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Appointment as Super Eagles Head Coach (2025)
After much debate, obstacles and series of interim coaches, January 7, 2025, Éric Sékou Chelle was unveiled as the head coach of Nigeria’s national football team. This appointment marks a significant chapter in his career as he inherits a team brimming with talent but seeking renewed direction.
Chelle’s immediate focus
Chelle’s immediate focus will be on supervising the Super Eagles’ participation in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), providing an early opportunity to assess local-based talent.
His long-term goal involves securing the final tickets for the team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with expectations high from fans and stakeholders alike.
Major Trophy As A Manager
Eric Chelle has not secured any major trophies in his coaching career to date, this questions his ability to guide the 3-time AFCON winners to any substantial victory.
Positive Implications:
Fresh Perspective and Motivation:
Chelle’s pursuit of his first major trophy could drive him to implement innovative strategies and work diligently to achieve success with the Super Eagles.
Development Focus:
His experience in managing teams without the pressure of defending titles may allow him to concentrate on building a cohesive unit, fostering young talent, and establishing a solid foundation for future successes.
The absence of a proven track record in winning major trophies might lead to skepticism among fans, players, and officials, increasing the pressure on Chelle to deliver immediate results.
Experience in High-Stakes Matches:
Without prior success in securing major titles, there may be concerns about his ability to navigate the Super Eagles through the critical stages of major tournaments, where experience in winning can be crucial.
While Eric Chelle’s lack of major trophies presents certain challenges, it also offers opportunities for growth and development in his new role with Nigeria’s national team.
Will Éric Sékou Chelle succeed as Eagles head coach? Time will tell.
