Meet Eric Chelle, New Super Eagles Coach And Few Things You Should Know About Him

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, announced the appointment of former Mali coach Éric Sékou Chelle as the new coach of the Super Eagles.

“The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles,” the NFF said in a statement.

Eric Chelle who is expected to resume work with “immediate effect” according to a statement from the NFF media team on Tuesday, January 7, has the responsibility to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Below are a few things you need to know about Eric Chelle, new Super Eagles coach

• Birthplace: Éric Sékou Chelle was born on November 11, 1977, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He holds Malian citizenship despite his French-Ivorian roots, as his father is French and his mother Malian.
• International Representation: He has represented Mali on the international stage, earning six caps between 2003 and 2006. Chelle transitioned to management after retiring from football, starting his coaching career in France’s lower leagues.
• In May 2021, he was appointed head coach of US Boulogne but was dismissed in December 2021 after a poor run of results.
• In 2022, he took over as head coach of the Mali national team, leading them to the quarter-finals of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Mali narrowly lost to the hosts in extra time.
• Professional Playing Career: Chelle dedicated his entire playing career to clubs in France, including Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais.
• Coaching Experience: the 47-year-old coach led Mali national team to a semi-final finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in 2024. He has coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran.
• Coaching Style: Eric Chelle is known for promoting an exciting, free-flowing style of football, often utilizing a 4-4-2 formation.
• UEFA Pro License: Chelle has a UEFA Pro coaching license.
• Mali Tenure: Chelle achieved notable success in his two-year stint with Mali, recording 14 wins, draws, and just 3 losses across 22 matches. Under his reign, Mali secured ten clean sheets.
• Competitive Selection: Chelle emerged as a preferred choice for the Mali coaching position, surpassing well-known candidates like Gernot Rohr.
• Coaching Philosophy: He subscribes to the belief that “attack is the best form of defense”.

Mali Sacked Eric Chelle in June 2024 after leading the country to a goalless draw against 10-man Madagascar in a Group I World Cup qualifier.