“If he brings Mali football” — Sadiq Umar reveals how Chelle can excel with Nigeria

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international Sadiq Umar has expressed strong support for newly appointed Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, confidently stating that his tactical approach will benefit the team.

The 26-year-old striker, who missed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to injury, closely followed the tournament and particularly Mali’s performances, due to his teammate’s involvement with the team.

Chelle, who took over as head coach of Nigeria after interim coach Austin Eguavoen’s tenure, has already made an impression following his time with the Mali national team, where he led them to a quarterfinal finish at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.

Chelle’s leadership saw Mali achieve a historic win over Nigeria in a friendly match last March, marking the first victory for Mali against the Super Eagles in 50 years.

Despite being narrowly eliminated by the host nation in extra time during the AFCON quarterfinals, Chelle’s tactical acumen earned him recognition across African football.

Umar believes that Chelle’s success with Mali can translate into similar success with the Super Eagles.

“I think with the way he plays, if he brings it to Nigeria, the way he played in Mali, I think we will go a long way forward,” Umar told Sporty TV.

Reflecting on Mali’s 2023 AFCON campaign, Umar pointed out the team’s high-level performances and how they were considered among the favorites.

Despite their impressive display, Mali was knocked out in the quarterfinals, a reminder that sometimes even the best teams don’t always win.

“You can see what he did in the last AFCON. Everyone was thinking that Mali was also among the favourites. You can see how they played. They were so good but they got knocked out in the quarterfinals because sometimes it is not the best that wins,” Umar explained.

Having closely watched Mali’s games during the tournament, Umar commended the style of play under Chelle. “I can tell you I watched a lot of games of Mali because I have a teammate there. And you can see how they play. You can see the coach (Chelle) has a lot of things.”

Chelle’s first official game in charge of the Super Eagles will come when the 2026 World Cup qualifiers resume on March 17 with an away fixture against Rwanda in Kigali, followed by a home game against Zimbabwe in Uyo seven days later.

As Nigeria sits fifth in their group with only three points from four games, the team will be looking to Chelle’s tactics to spark a turnaround and boost their qualification hopes.