By Nurudeen Obalola
New Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle was officially presented by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja on Monday.
The former Mali international was announced as the successor to Austin Eguavoen last week and he oversaw his last match as MC Oran coach in Algeria at the weekend.
“This is an amazing job, and I know what Nigeria expects. Football is all about scoring goals,” Chelle said during his presentation at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
“I thank the NFF, the Sports Commission, and Nigerians for this opportunity. I’m ready to work.”
On his coaching philosophy, the 47-year-old said he stresses discipline, risk-taking, and fostering a strong bond with players.
“Scoring goals is a mindset. We need to play aggressively and with intensity. When we lose possession, we must press high and recover the ball quickly,” he added.
“To succeed as a coach, you must take risks. The Super Eagles is my favourite team, and I’m committed to building a strong connection with the players. I’ll be strict but also serve as a big brother to them.”
The appointment of Chelle has been met with pessimism, given that he has not achieved anything significant as the coach of Mali and MC Oran.
However, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau insisted the new head coach has the capacity to succeed with the three-time African champions.
“We understand Nigerians’ passion for football and have considered their opinions. Eric is here to deliver results,” Gusau said.
“If he replicates what he achieved with Mali (Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals), we will qualify for the World Cup. He knows African football, and we’ll give him the necessary support.”
He added that Chelle would travel to Ikenne to supervise the Super Eagles’ preparation for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) billed for next month.
