By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is confident that if the new head coach of the senior national football team, Super Eagles, Eric Sekou Chelle can replicate the good job he did when he handled the Mali national side, Les Aiglons (The Super Eagles), Nigeria will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in United States, Canada and Mexico.
Gusau who made this assertion on Monday in Abuja at the unveiling ceremony of Chelle as the Super Eagles head coach, said that the Franco-Malian gaffer is in Nigeria to give the country results, arguing that he did a good job during his time with the Malian national team.
Said he: “We in the NFF appreciates all the concerns expressed by Nigerians since we announced Eric as our new coach. We understand that all the comments were made out of passion for the Super Eagles but Eric is here to give us results.
“If Eric can replicate what happened in Mali, Nigeria will qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. We at NFF will give him all the support he needs to succeed.
“Eric will move to Ikenne to supervice the CHAN Eagles training. He will work on supervisory capacity to see how to incorporate home-based players in the Super Eagles team”.
The NFF boss however disclosed that Chelle’s contract is for just two years with the option to extend while the coach is coming with three assistants who he will pay from his monthly salary said to be in the region on Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), an amount lower than what immediate expatriate coach Jose Peseiro received when he handled Super Eagles.
The official presentation and contract signing ceremony between the NFF and Chelle was witnessed by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko; Chairman, NFF Technical & Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Inua Rabiu alongside Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen; General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Director of Competitions Ruth David; Director of Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire; Rajan Zakka Finance & Accounts Department and Head of Marketing and Sponsorship Chuks Alizor amongst others.
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