The appointment of Malian coach Eric Chelle as the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles has sparked divergent opinions among former internationals, stakeholders, and fans.
Azubuike Egwuekwe, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, expressed disappointment, criticizing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for overlooking local coaches for the position.
“When I saw his appointment, I wasn’t happy because I wanted us to look inward,” Egwuekwe said. “Eguavoen has been doing well with the national team; it was just a matter of giving him more opportunities. I feel disappointed that we’ve chosen a Malian coach when we have capable hands in Nigeria who can lead us to the level we aspire to. It’s about encouraging and believing in our own.”
Former Gombe FA Chairman Shuaibu Gara-Gombe also questioned Chelle’s credentials. “Nobody knows Chelle. What has he achieved? Aside from an AFCON quarter-final finish, there’s nothing remarkable,” Gara-Gombe stated. “We waited this long only to appoint a coach who hasn’t achieved as much as Peseiro did with our team. How can he handle the world-class players we have?”
However, sports journalist, Charles Anazodo offered a more positive perspective. “To be honest, I see nothing wrong with the appointment,” Anazodo said. “Mali’s performance at the Africa Cup of Nations was commendable—they reached the quarter-finals and lost to the host nation, which eventually beat us in the final. The federation has gone for a coach with African football experience, which is crucial, especially considering their limited resources.”
Football consultant, Dan Kakwi emphasized the rationale behind the NFF’s decision. “The NFF understands the unique challenges of African qualifiers, which demand physicality, mental toughness, and adaptability,” Kakwi said. “Chelle’s African football background, both as a player and coach, positions him well to navigate these complexities. His eagerness to lead a talent-rich Nigerian team also influenced the decision. This is a dream opportunity for him to create a cohesive unit capable of dominating the qualifiers.”
The appointment has generated intense debate among fans, with many expressing skepticism on social media. “This is an insult to Nigerian coaches,” wrote one user on X. “No offense to him, but why hire a Malian coach when Nigerian coaches are just as capable?”
Another fan criticized the NFF’s approach: “Yet again, we’ve hired an average foreign coach with a hefty salary. They’ll underperform and leave happily with big compensations.”
Despite the criticism, former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze called for support for the new coach. “Honestly, this isn’t what we expected,” Udeze said. “To qualify for the World Cup, we need to win all our qualifiers and hope for favorable results in our group. I’m unsure if Chelle is the right man for the job, but now that the NFF has appointed him, we must support him and hope he proves us wrong. I wish him the best, but he has a lot to prove to Nigerians.”
Super Eagles forward Moses Simon welcomed the new coach, posting “Bienvenue au Nigeria” (Welcome to Nigeria) on his X account. While some media outlets reported that Chelle would earn $50,000 monthly and his assistants $5,000 each, the NFF has remained silent on these claims. Calls and messages to NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
The decision to appoint Chelle has left many questioning his ability to steer the Super Eagles to success. Nonetheless, stakeholders agree that he must be given the opportunity to prove himself as the team embarks on a challenging path toward World Cup qualification.
