The uncertainty hanging over the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new coach of the Super Eagles will be over by Monday (today), when the Nigeria Football Federation unveils the ex-Mali coach and his assistants in the Federal Capital, Abuja.
Chelle was named by the NFF as the new coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team last Tuesday, following a recommendation by the football ruling body’s Technical and Development Committee, making him the third man to take charge of the team since the exit of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.
According to the NFF, the 47-year-old and his assistants will lead the Super Eagles B at next month’s African Nations Championship in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, before focusing squarely on the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, beginning with the matches against Rwanda (away) and Zimbabwe (home) in March.
His unveiling has been scheduled for the Media Conference Room of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, by 11 am, but it remains to be seen if the duo Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu who guided the Super Eagles B to the CHAN will be part of his setup.
Mixed reactions have trailed his appointment since last week, while his departure for the role was delayed by his Algerian club, MC Oran, where he had a running two-year contract which he signed in October 2024 after quitting as Mali coach in July 2024.
In what was his last game in charge of the club, he led them to a 1-0 win over USM Setif in an Algerian Cup round of 32 game before holding a crucial meeting with the club’s hierarchy.
Perhaps the NFF understands the criticism of his appointment over Nigerian coaches, NFF president; Ibrahim Gusau described the reactions that trailed it as a reflection of Nigerians’ passion for the game.
“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. 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,” Gusau said in a statement on Sunday.
“The NFF will give him all the support that he needs to succeed in the job.”
In the statement that announced Chelle’s unveiling, the NFF also described his new job as one of the hottest seats in world football, with the ex-Mali coach also bracing for the life ahead.
Before joining MC Oran, the Franco-Malian coach was in charge of the Mali national team until June 2024.
He led Mali to the quarterfinals of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, agonisingly losing the tie 2-1 against the hosts after leading 1-0 till stoppage time.
Chelle managed 14 wins, five draws and three defeats in 22 games in charge of Mali including beating Nigeria 2-0 in an international friendly in March 2024.
His work with Nigeria is cut out, with the Super Eagles having a mountain to climb in the remaining six matches of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, which resume in March.
