The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have confirmed the appointment of former Malian head coach Éric Chelle as the new manager of the Super Eagles.
The football body announced the appointment of the of the 47-year-old Malian via a statement on its official X page on Tuesday night.
After several weeks of speculations, the Ibrahim Musa Gusua-led NFF appoints Chelle as the substantial replacement for Finidi George who left the job last year June.
According to the NFF, Chelle’s appointment is with immediate effect and he’s saddled with the responsibility of qualifying the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States of America.
Éric Chelle led The Eagles of Mali to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations where they lost 2-1 in extra time to winners Cote D’Ivoire.
Mali led 1-0 until Simon Adingra’s equalizer in the final minute of regulation time. Mali lost in extra time with Oumar Diakite’s goal in added time of extra time.
Éric Chelle was born to a French father and a Malian mother in Cote D’Ivoire in 1977 and played for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France as a center-back.
Chelle coached Algerian side MC Oran for about a year after he was dismissed as coach of Mali in June 2024.
The 47-year-old will hope to turn the fortunes of the Super Eagles around when the FIFA World Cup qualifiers resumes in March.
