“The results will speak” — Eric Chelle ready to prove critics wrong

By Monsurah Olatunji

Newly appointed Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is confident he will silence his critics and prove his managerial abilities as he takes charge of Nigeria’s national football team.

Chelle, who replaced Austin Eguavoen as head coach after Eguavoen’s interim tenure following Finidi George’s departure, has faced skepticism regarding his coaching credentials.

The 47-year-old former Mali coach is under significant pressure to deliver positive results, especially with the Super Eagles’ crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe scheduled for March 2025.

Currently, Nigeria sits in fifth place in Group C with just three points from four matches, putting their World Cup hopes at risk.

Despite the doubts surrounding his appointment, Chelle is determined to prove his worth. In an interview with RFI via Matin Libre, the new Super Eagles boss emphasized that pressure and criticism are part of the job.

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

He continued, expressing his commitment to the role: “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.”

Chelle made it clear that, despite the noise surrounding his appointment, his focus is on getting the Super Eagles back on track: “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.”

With the clock ticking ahead of the qualifiers, Chelle is determined to let his results on the pitch speak louder than any criticism.