“I will quickly put it in place” – Eric Chelle reveals plans to turnaround Eagles’ fortune

By Wale Mustapha

Newly appointed Head Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Eric Chelle has promised to use positive results with the team to sway minds of his critics.

Chelle has been faced with several criticisms since his appointment as new tactician of Nigeria football national team.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF unveiled the 47-year-old as the new manager of the Super Eagles taking over from Austin Eguavoen, who held the position in an interim capacity since the exit of Finidi George.

Nigerians football enthusiasts have questioned Chelle’s abilities to lead the team, while others have shown support and encouragement for the Malian coach.

Chelle has however expressed confidence in his approach and tactical abilities to deliver the desired result to help overcome the pressure.

Since his announcement as the new gaffer of the Super Eagles, the Franco-Malian tactician has faced several criticisms, questioning his qualities to manage the team. is optimistic about getting the desired result that would prove his doubters wrong about his ability to manage the team.

“We play football, it’s normal that there is pressure. It’s normal that there is criticism. Wherever I go, in any club or team, there will be people who are fans of me and others who will hate me.

“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 said in an interview with RFI.

The Super Eagles are fifth in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with only three points from four games.

With the team in danger of missing out on the World Cup, Chelle’s first objective would be to secure qualification for the tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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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