Eric Chelle Assumes Role as Nigeria U-23 Head Coach

Nigeria’s senior men’s national team head coach Eric Chelle has officially taken charge of U-23 national team following a strategic resolution reached during a high-level meeting held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the National Sports Commission (NSC) headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders in Nigerian football administration, including NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau, NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, alongside Chelle.

According to the resolution, Chelle’s involvement with the U-23 side is part of a broader plan aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s football development structure and improving performance across age-grade national teams. The move is also designed to enhance the country’s competitiveness in upcoming U-23 competitions and Olympic qualification campaigns.

Nigeria’s U-23 national team, widely known as the Nigeria national under-23 football team or “Dream Team,” remains one of Africa’s most successful youth football sides. The team made history at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games by becoming the first African nation to win Olympic football gold.

That iconic triumph was achieved under coach Jo Bonfrere, with a memorable campaign that included a dramatic 4-3 semi-final victory over Brazil, sealed by a famous golden goal from Nwankwo Kanu. Nigeria went on to defeat Argentina 3-2 in the final to secure the historic gold medal.

The Dream Team further cemented its legacy by winning silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, making Nigeria the first African country to complete the full set of Olympic football medals.

Although the team’s performance has fluctuated in recent editions of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and Olympic qualifying campaigns, Nigeria has remained a consistent contender on the continental stage.

With Eric Chelle now integrated into the U-23 setup, expectations are high that the team will build on its proud Olympic legacy and re-establish itself among the elite of African and global youth football.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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