The appointment of Eric Chelle as the Super Eagles coach sparked a wave of mixed reactions, from cautious optimism to outright indifference, among millions of Nigerian football fans.
With the qualification race for the 2026 World Cup resuming this week, Chelle faces the daunting task of reigniting Nigeria’s hope of reaching the global football fiesta – an ambitious challenge after the heartbreak of missing the 2022 World Cup.
Once feared across the continent, the Super Eagles now face a steep climb. The stakes have never been higher for Chelle. But can he rise to the task or will he crumble under the weight of leading Nigeria to the quadrennial competition set for the US, Mexico, and Canada?
Nigeria’s Thorny Road To World Cup
Qualifying for the World Cup has never been easy, but for the Super Eagles, it is even more intense. Once the pride of African football, the Super Eagles have been inconsistent over the last three years, leaving fans to question whether Nigeria’s golden footballing era is behind them.
Paired with South Africa, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and the Benin Republic, Nigeria were seeded and expected to have an easier route to qualification. Yet, the 2013 African champions have only managed three points from their first four games, leaving them four points behind Group C leaders Rwanda who they face in Kigali on Friday.
Chelle’s appointment to lead the Super Eagles took many by surprise. The 47-year-old, born in Cote d’Ivoire, had been dismissed by Mali after their disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. While his resume includes stints with some African clubs, he made history as the first non-Nigerian African to manage the Super Eagles!
Though many Nigerian fans may be unfamiliar with the former MC Oran manager’s coaching background, he became more widely known after a viral video of him being doused with water following Mali’s heartbreaking 2-1 loss to nine-man Cote d’Ivoire in the 2023 AFCON quarter-finals.
Even though Malian coach Chelle has been on the job for less than two months, he will be managing the team for the first time against Rwanda. He steps into a volatile environment where expectations are high and patience is thin. The Super Eagles have a rich history but their vaunted heritage has been marred by inconsistency, especially in recent years. Failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup was a bitter pill to swallow for Nigerians, missing out on next year’s edition would be an even greater blow to the nation’s footballing pride.
A Shift In Style
Chelle, however, will be relying on his experience in African football to help him guide Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup. Having previously coached MC Oran of Algeria and the Malian national team, the 47-year-old manager brings valuable continental experience. During his time with Mali, Chelle oversaw 21 games, winning 13, drawing five, and losing only three.
Known for his attacking brand of football, which he showcased with the Eagles of Mali during the 2023 AFCON, the former defender faces a demanding task. Jose Peseiro who left Nigeria after that competition was often criticised for sacrificing the Super Eagles’ attacking football – long a hallmark of Nigerian football – in favour of defensive solidity.
That approach, however, is expected to change when Nigeria take to the field on Friday.
“I love scoring goals. My teams are never lacking in goals, and the Super Eagles will be no exception—we will score goals,” Chelle declared during his unveiling in January.
Positive Energy ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/EO5k9FEFjf
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 19, 2025
With an attacking lineup featuring the likes of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman – the immediate past and current African Player of the Year respectively – Chelle is well-equipped to build a formidable offensive side. For the upcoming qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, he has named a 23-man squad.
Star Power
But beyond his tactical skills, Chelle’s ability to manage Nigeria’s star-studded roaster will be crucial to realising the dream of World Cup qualification. Nigeria is the second most valuable team in Africa and 16th globally with an estimated worth of €371.10m as of March 2025. This makes the Super Eagles a team with immense potential but also fraught with the challenge of managing high-profile personalities. The need for effective management is especially evident following the fallout between Osimhen and George Finidi – the immediate past substantive coach of the team.
Since the start of the World Cup qualification campaign, the team has been led by two different coaches – Jose Peseiro and Finidi – each having managed two games. This means Chelle’s task is not only to guide the Super Eagles tactically but also to unite a fragmented squad and bring much-needed stability.
With just days to train and integrate new faces, Chelle must blend Super Eagles’ established stars with the fresh talent he has brought in.
But can the Malian bring back the Super Eagles’ attacking flair, manage the egos, instill unity, and lead Nigeria back to the World Cup?
