Former Malian manager Éric Sékou Chelle named as new Super Eagles head coach

FORMER Boulogne and Malian national team head coach Éric Sékou Chelle has been named by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) as the new Super Eagles manager with a mandate to qualify the team for the 2026 World Cup.

Chelle, 47, is a former Lens defender, who boasts a wealth of managerial experience in both club and international football. With Nigeria sitting at a pivotal point in the World Cup qualifiers, Chelle has a an uphill task of trying to secure a World Cup ticket as the team resumes qualifiers in March with a double header against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

According to the NFF, Chelle’s appointment as the Super Eagles coach was endorsed by its executive committee based on the recommendation of its technical and development sub-committee. Chelle is expected to arrive in Nigeria with three of his long-term assistants to finalise the deal with the NFF and begin work immediately.

Eric Chelle to pocket $50,000 monthly, which makes him among the higher-paid coaches on the African continent. Two of Chelle's valued foreign assistants will also each receive $5,000 per month, demonstrating the NFF's commitment to establishing a competitive environment for the new Super Eagles technical crew.

After four matches, the Super Eagles are without a win and sit fifth in their World cup qualification group, which includes Benin Republic, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Rwanda. World Cup qualifiers resume in March with Nigeria scheduled to face Rwanda's Wasps. who recently beat the Eagles 2-1 in an African Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo in November.

Until his recent appointment, Chelle was head coach of MC Oran, a top-flight Algerian club and he parted ways with them by mutual consent this week to focus on his new role with Nigeria. He is expected to travel to Paris, France, today, Wednesday, January 8, before heading to Nigeria for his unveiling on Sunday.