Eric Chelle is set to take on the role of Head Coach for Nigeria’s Super Eagles during an unveiling ceremony at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday.
The announcement comes less than a week after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the Franco-Malian as the team’s new Head Coach.
Despite lingering skepticism about the 47-year-old’s capabilities, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has expressed confidence in Chelle’s potential.
“We appreciate the fact that Nigerians are very passionate about the game of football, and that is the reason for the different tones of reactions following the appointment of Coach Chelle,” Gusau stated on Sunday via a post on the NFF’s website.
“However, the NFF hereby appeals to Nigerians to come together and support him, as we believe he has the qualities to achieve success with the Super Eagles. The NFF will give him all the support that he needs to succeed in the job.”
The unveiling ceremony will also serve as a platform to announce Chelle’s backroom staff. Together, the team will first lead the Super Eagles B squad in next month’s African Nations Championship, hosted in East Africa.
Following this, the focus will shift to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Super Eagles, who currently sit in fifth place in their group, are four points behind the leaders after a disappointing start to the campaign. However, they will have an opportunity to turn things around in March, starting with an away match in Rwanda before hosting Zimbabwe.
Chelle brings a wealth of experience to the role. As Mali’s head coach from 2022, he guided the Aiglons to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they narrowly lost to eventual champions Côte d’Ivoire.
The former defender earned five caps for Mali’s national team during his playing career and has managed clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran.
