It is no longer news that Eric Chelle has been unveiled as the new Super Eagles gaffer. Love or loathe him, Nigerians are left with no other choice but to wish him all the best as he takes over the reins as national team coach. Given the Frenchman’s background and the fact that he was sacked by FC Martugues, US Boulogne, and the Mali national team—and departed MC Oran in an unfavourable condition—Chelle might well be a divisive appointment.
Having said that, he was able to transform the Eagles of Mali into a hard nut to crack, and the Elephant of Côte d’Ivoire can testify to this, given the fact that Mali was unlucky to have crashed out of the last AFCON. It took several bottles of cold water to calm Eric Chelle’s nerves after the Eagles of Mali eventually lost 2-1 to their hosts, and Chelle never recovered from that shock until he was eventually shown the door.
But he has told anyone who cares to listen how excited he is to take up the job of one of Africa’s best national teams. While those excitements may have given way to reality, the pressure that comes with barking out orders to Super Eagles stars from the touchlines, below are five major challenges ahead of the stone-faced Super Eagles’ new manager, writes David Meshioye.
1. Qualifying For the 2026 World Cup
While Chelle’s job is safe irrespective of what comes out of the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, he will be a dead man walking should Nigeria fail to beat Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers. These two games will determine Nigeria’s fate in the qualifiers after picking three points from four matches. Nigeria has not recorded any wins in the qualifiers, and there is no better time for Chelle to start winning.
One of the reasons why Eguavoen opted out of the job is the fear of missing out on the World Cup for the second time, and Chelle will have his head on the plate should Nigeria fail to qualify for the World Cup.
2. Tactical Twerking
Eric’s appointment as the new Super Eagles gaffer signals a new chapter for the Nigerian national team. Known for his tactical intelligence and innovation, one major factor working for Eric Chelle is his adaptability skills. He would likely adopt his preferred 4-3-1-2 formation with a back line of four defenders, made up of two centre-backs and two full-backs.
Ahead of this back line is a significant central midfield presence, with three players operating as a flat trio. The midfield is bolstered by the addition of two attacking midfielders, or number 10s. As good as this system looks, Nigeria has struggled to produce another Austin Jay Jay Okocha for the past two decades, and having Iwobi or Kelechi Iheanacho fit into that ball carrier role could be a major problem. It might take a long time to adapt to his system, and Nigeria doesn’t seem to have that time with just three points from four matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
3. Striking the Right Balance to Ensure Harmony
The Nigerian senior national team is a mix of experienced players like Troost Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, and emerging young stars like Victor Osimhen, Lookman, and Dele Bashiru. Chelle must, as a matter of urgency, strike a balance to ensure harmony in the dressing room or be ready to board the next available flight to Paris. While he has more experience working at the club level, Nigeria would be the second national team after he managed Mali.
His limited international experience, where players are not readily available unlike clubs, poses a huge challenge to his quest to succeed under a very short contract.
4. Winning Players’ Respect
Chelle has inherited a team that is flowing with milk and honey, given the abundance of talents at his disposal but drawn back by unfulfilled potential. Respected for his man-management skills, a whole lot of Super Eagles stars ply their trade under some of the best managers in the world, and they will not expect less from Chelle in terms of tactics.
It may sound funny, but most of these players now understand how a team should set up when attacking and defending. The Frenchman would have to dig deep into his technical books of tricks and come out with a formation that will not only win matches but also earn him the respect of the players.
5. Winning Fans’ and Press Confidence
Chelle gained more enemies right from the day of his appointment, with Nigerians questioning the rationale behind the appointment. Others demand to know why the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would impose a French-Malian on Nigerian coaches, whom many believe are far better than some of their contemporaries in Africa.
Besides, every Nigerian fan is a potential manager, and to say they can be impatient is an understatement—that is one major river Chelle would have to cross without drowning.
The fans and press are desperate for major silverware, and winning crucial matches like the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe will be crucial. Chelle would be under immense pressure to deliver. Besides, it should be of great interest to him that every choice line-up will be heavily debated by sports enthusiasts considering the country’s embarrassment of talent.
May your road be smooth Eric.
