Nigerians condemn appointment of Chelle as Super Eagles coach
"Bringing Eric Chelle to take over the national team is a slap on our football."
Nigerians across the divide have expressed shock and expressed disappointment over the appointment of former Mali coach Éric Chelle as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
Former Super Eagles defender, Sam Elijah, has voiced strong criticism of the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) decision to appoint Eric Chelle as the head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles.
Elijah, in an interview with allnigeriasoccer.com, expressed his dissatisfaction with the NFF’s decision, condemning the hiring of Chelle and highlighting the value of homegrown coaching talent.
“I don’t think this is the right appointment. We have a local coach (Austin Eguavoen) who has done well in our past matches,” Elijah said.
“He came and he redeemed the team. Now, they have been canvassing for a foreign coach all this while.
“I don’t know what the NFF is looking for, for me bringing Eric Chelle to take over the national team is a slap on our football.”
Elijah further questioned the credentials of Chelle, comparing his career to that of Eguavoen, and argued that the former was not a suitable fit for the Super Eagles.
“Who is Eric Chelle compared to Austin Eguavoen, in any way? Look at the playing career, look at the two of them playing for their various national teams.
“How many caps does he have, what was his achievement the last time he took the national team to Côte d’Ivoire, he couldn’t get to the final,” Elijah added.
Some fans who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Wednesday said that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should have retained the coaching crew lead by Austin Eguavoen.
BRANDECONOMY reports that, NFF appointed Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Tuesday to guide the nation to pick a 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket.
Adindu Udeh, a football fan said that the appointment of a new coach at this point in time was not necessary considering the short period to the World Cup qualifier.
He was of the opinion that, NFF should have supported Eguavoen to lead the Home base Eagles to CHAN tournament and through the World Cup qualifier.
Another enthusiast Jude Obasi said he was shocked at the announcement and would have preferred an indigenous coach.
“We don’t really know what the former Malian coach will bring to the table, but I prefer the indigenous coaches because they understand the terrain.
“What will be our benefit if the new coach fails to take us to the 2026 World Cup finals, because I know it is going to be difficult considering Nigeria’s position on the table,” he said.
Mercy Udekwe said the change is necessary but should not have been an African coach but a European with years of experience.
“This NFF action for me will demoralise our home grown coaches, at a time other African countries are trusting their coaches, we are taking our coaches for granted, “she said.
Chimaobi Ihezue however said he was not against the appointment of a new coach, but concerned about Nigeria’s qualification for the forthcoming World Cup in 2026.
“If Chelle will take us to the world cup, let us support him,” Ihezue said.
More Nigerians voiced their displeasure on social media…
@ikechiviroo wrote: “In the history of a Nigerian football ,Nigerian has never hired an African coach to coach the super eagles what happened to amunike or even leave eguavon there even Samson siasia has a better profile than this guy , this @thenff is the worst set ever.”
@oluwaremedies asked: “@thenff Are you people serious? Is it a must to hire a foreigner? So, no Nigerian is better than this man? Or una don put am under unasefs to collect discount from him? Nah. Eagles will respect any ex-Eagles or a Naija coach than this recordless coach.”
@SopuruEgbodo said: “This is an insult to the thousands of qualified Nigerian coaches we have at home.
Let’s see how this their experiment goes. You’re paying a Mali coach €50,000 but can’t pay home based coaches up to ₦30million.”
BRANDECONOMY reports that Chelle, who won five caps for the Aiglons of Mali and coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne and MC Oran, has been Head Coach of the Aiglons since 2022.
The 47-year-old featured for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career.
