Newly-appointed Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle has responded to his critics, boasting that he is the right man to lead the team to the top of African football.
The Malian was unveiled as the new coach of the team on Monday in Abuja, and he has been tasked with the objective of qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Chelle’s appointment generated widespread criticism as Nigerians expressed their displeasure at the Nigeria Football Federation for appointing an inexperienced coach to tutor the Super Eagles.
The 47-year-old boasts of a career record of 67 wins, 40 draws, and 41 losses, resulting in a win percentage of 45.27%, and his highest achievement as a national team coach is taking the Malian national team to the quarter-finals of the AFCON in 2023.
Chelle has played down the notion that he does not have the required experience to lead the Super Eagles.
He said: “Already, there are a lot of people who say that I don’t have much experience. But ultimately, I do have experience. I ended my career in 2014, and I’ve been coaching since that year.
“I coached a team, let’s say, from West Africa (Mali) not long ago. I coached a team in Algeria, the Mouloudia Club d’Oran.
So, I’m starting to get to know African football well. Today, I feel ready to lead this great team with great players. So, I’m part of the progression process; the players will help me progress, and I will help them progress too. Because I have a vision of football that will really fit well with this team.”
Chelle alas revealed that he is ready to handle the pressure of coaching the Super Eagles, while boasting that the results will speak for him.
He said: “We play football; it’s normal that there is pressure. It’s normal that there is criticism. Today, I will work; I have certainties; I have my game plan in mind, and I will quickly put it in place.
“Now, my results and the team’s results will speak for me. So, we can say what we want, but, at the time we speak, the coach of the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, his name is Eric Chelle.”
Chelle is the third coach to take charge of the Super Eagles in the last 10 months after Finidi George, and Augustine Eguavoen.
He is expected to take charge of his first competitive Super Eagles match against Rwanda in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March.
Chelle has a difficult task on his hands as he attempts to improve Nigeria’s fortunes in the World Cup qualifiers with the Super Eagles sitting precariously in the fifth position after four games following their winless start to the race.
