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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially presented Eric Sékou Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, Soccernet.football reports.
The unveiling ceremony took place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, attended by prominent figures such as NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission.
Speaking at the event, Gusau pledged the NFF’s full support to ensure Chelle succeeds in his new role. “We will provide all the resources needed to help you take the Super Eagles to new heights,” Gusau affirmed.
WELCOME TO THE NEST, COACH ERIC!
— SoccerBytes (@SoccerBytes_) January 13, 2025
Documents signed and Exchanged, the era begins!
Chelle is the NEW HEAD COACH of the Super Eagles!
#SuperEagles #EricChelle #NewEra #soccerbytes #nigerianFootball pic.twitter.com/dAtZmUArqW
Chelle, a former defender with managerial experience across French lower leagues and the Malian national team, arrives in Nigeria with a fresh technical team. His backroom staff includes Hadi Taboubi as assistant coach, Thomas Gornourec for physical preparation, and Jean Daniel Padovani as goalkeeper trainer.
The 47-year-old joins from Algerian side MC Oran, where his record was mixed, securing 17 points from 12 matches (five wins, two draws, and five losses).
However, his tenure as Mali’s head coach at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was far more impressive.
Chelle guided the Mali Eagles to a strong showing, advancing from a group that included South Africa and Tunisia. Mali narrowly missed out on the semifinals after a spirited quarterfinal clash with hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
Chelle is expected to implement a 4-3-1-2 formation, a tactical shift from the back-three system used by former Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen.
His immediate tasks include preparing Nigeria for the 2024 African Nations Championship, co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, while his primary objective is to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes are currently hanging by a thread. The Super Eagles are fifth in their group, trailing Rwanda, South Africa, Benin, and Lesotho, with only the group winners guaranteed a place at the World Cup.
