The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former Mali head coach Eric Chelle as the new manager of the Super Eagles, ending the long wait for a permanent head coach.
The national team has been without a permanent head coach since Finidi George’s resignation in June 2024. During this period, the NFF entrusted caretaker duties to Austin Eguavoen, who successfully led the team to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). With important World Cup qualifiers approaching in March, the NFF has now turned to Chelle, who guided Mali to a quarter-final finish at AFCON 2023.
In a statement released today, the NFF confirmed Chelle’s appointment, signaling a new direction for the Super Eagles under the guidance of the Malian tactician. The NFF Technical and Development Sub-committee recommended Chelle on January 2, and the federation’s executive committee officially endorsed the decision on January 7.
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The statement read: “The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of Mr. Éric Sékou Chelle as Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, Super Eagles.”
Chelle, a retired Mali international, previously coached the Mali national team before his dismissal in June 2024. As a player, he was a centre-back, and after retiring, he transitioned into coaching. Over 21 games as Mali’s head coach, Chelle achieved an impressive record, earning 2.10 points per game, with 13 wins, five draws, and just three losses.
