By Andrew Abah, ABUJA
Recently, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, marking a fresh chapter for Nigerian football.
Born on Nov 11, 1977, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Chelle has a rich heritage a French father and a Malian mother. His playing career was entirely in France, where he excelled as a central defender.
Chelle represented clubs like Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais. He earned 375 club appearances, scoring 11 goals—impressive for a defender!
On the international stage, Chelle earned 5 caps for the Malian national team between 2004 and 2006, bringing grit and experience to their defense.
After retiring in 2014, Chelle transitioned to coaching. He started as an assistant at GS Consolat before head coaching stints with FC Martigues & Boulogne in France.
In May 2022, he became Mali’s national team coach. Under his leadership, Mali reached the 2023 AFCON quarter-finals but fell to hosts Ivory Coast in extra time. A promising feat!
Chelle now takes over the Super Eagles at a critical moment. Nigeria is 5th in their World Cup qualifying group with 3 points, chasing Rwanda, South Africa & Benin (all on 7).
His current KPI?
- Prep the home-based Eagles for the 2024 CHAN (Feb 1-28, 2025).
- Guide the Eagles in March’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda & Zimbabwe.
Chelle’s experience in both European & African football is key. He’s a talent nurturer & tactician, ready to revive Nigeria’s football dominance & secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
I’m confident that under Chelle, the Super Eagles will soar higher than ever, blending tactical discipline with the signature Nigerian flair we all love.
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