Chelle breaks silence on unexpected Super Eagles appointment

Malian football tactician, Eric Chelle, has spoken out about the surprising journey that led to his historic appointment as head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, clarifying that he never lobbied for the role.

Chelle, 47, was unveiled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in January, a move that caught many off guard and sparked widespread discussion in the football community.

The appointment is a landmark moment for Nigerian football, as Chelle becomes the first African coach to officially lead the Super Eagles—a team historically managed by foreign or homegrown Nigerian coaches.

According to Chelle, the opportunity came as a surprise even to him. “I didn’t lobby for the job,” he stated, adding that he was humbled and honored by the trust placed in him by the NFF.

Despite being one of the least expected names on the NFF’s radar especially with several high-profile foreign and local coaches being heavily linked with the job Chelle insists his selection was based purely on merit.

“When I left the Malian team, there was a call for applications from the NFF, and so I applied like any other coach, and then the interview came,” Chelle told CANAL+SPORT Afrique.

“I was invited to a coaches’ conference where I presented my project, vision, and philosophy. I thought it would happen much faster, but due to some events, I had to wait, so I left. I left for Rouen, but then it’s true that I had this opportunity, which I risked losing. So I returned, for this great project.”