The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed that Éric Chelle will officially take over as Head Coach of the Super Eagles on Monday.
OsunDailyNG gathered that he will be unveiled during a ceremony at the Media Conference Room of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, scheduled for 11 a.m.
Chelle’s unveiling follows his recent appointment as the Super Eagles’ Head Coach, a decision made by the NFF less than a week ago.
The Franco-Malian tactician, 47, has faced some skepticism regarding his ability to lead the team. However, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has expressed confidence in Chelle’s potential.
“We understand the passion Nigerians have for football, which has led to mixed reactions about the appointment of Coach Chelle,” Gusau stated in a message shared on the NFF’s website.
“Nonetheless, we urge Nigerians to support him. We believe he possesses the qualities needed to succeed with the Super Eagles, and the NFF will provide him with the necessary backing.”
The unveiling event will also serve as an opportunity to introduce Chelle’s coaching assistants.
Together, the team is set to lead the Super Eagles B squad in next month’s African Nations Championship in East Africa.
Following this, Chelle’s attention will shift to revitalizing the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
The team currently sits fifth in their group, four points behind the leaders, but will look to bounce back in March with a match against Rwanda, followed by a home game against Zimbabwe.
Chelle previously coached Mali’s national team, guiding them to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they narrowly lost to the eventual champions.
A former defender, Chelle earned five caps for Mali and has coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran.
