Eric Chelle has reaffirmed his commitment to the Super Eagles project, insisting his ambition for Nigerian football remains as strong as it was on the day he took the job, despite the challenges that have accompanied his tenure so far, Footynaija.com reports.
The Franco-Malian coach, appointed in January 2025 on a two-year deal, oversaw Nigeria’s painful World Cup playoff exit to DR Congo last November.
A third-place finish at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco helped steady the ship, but the road ahead remains steep, with qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations beginning in September and a squad rebuild firmly underway.
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Chelle has spent recent weeks finalising his Unity Cup squad for London, where Nigeria face Zimbabwe and India from May 26, a tournament he has identified as a platform to blood new players and widen his selection options.
Through it all, his message to the Nigerian public has remained consistent.
‘We want to restore the glory days’
Speaking in a recent media discussion, per Sports247, Chelle was direct about where his headspace remains.
“My hunger is still strong,” he said. “I still want to make this team the best in Africa.”
He acknowledged that the journey requires patience without using it as an excuse.
“These things take time. You must stay mentally strong,” he said, before framing the broader mission in terms that will resonate with a fanbase that remembers Nigeria’s continental dominance in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“We want to restore the glory days,” Chelle added.
