Super Eagles: NANS ask NFF to reconsider Chelle’s appointment

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has come under fire from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for selecting Éric Sékou Chelle, a former Malian senior team coach, to be the Super Eagles’ next head coach.

NANS branded the appointment of the new Super Eagles strategist without any notable background as an anomaly in a statement signed by Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, the Senate Clerk at NANS National Headquarters, on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Chelle was named the Super Eagles’ new coach by the NFF Executive Committee.

NANS, however, criticized the selection, calling it a “slap on the country” and pointing out that there are more qualified and experienced coaches in Europe and Nigeria.

The student body pointed out that Chelle had failed to win the African Cup of Nations or qualify the Mali senior male national team for the World Cup since taking over as head coach in 2022.

The association argued that if the NFF wants an African coach, they should look locally as there are a number of Nigerian coaches with better backgrounds and resumes than Chelle.

When choosing a Nigerian or any other European to coach the Super Eagles, NANS asked the NFF to reevaluate their choice and look within.

Instead of hiring a “half-baked coach” from Africa, the student body also asked the NFF to train more local coaches and support them by assigning them to national teams.

Parts of the statement said, “We all witnessed how the Malian National Team, the Aiglons, struggled, wobbled and stumbled at the 2024 African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

“NANS, therefore, wonders why the NFF will go for such a person as the coach of the Super Eagles.

“The 47-year-old featured for clubs such as Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career, without no laurel.

“As a nation, we need a coach that is versed and tactical, who can harness and blend the talents we parade in this country.

“We at NANS condemn this appointment as it falls short of standards our nation is known for, especially in the round leather game. Rather than giving Nigeria a half-baked or run-of-the-mill coach, the NFF can do better by appointing a Nigerian into the position of the coach of the Super Eagles.

“We seriously doubt if Chelle can secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, a major mandate given to him by the NFF.

“We call on the football federation to reconsider this appointment and give the country a Super Eagles coach that will rekindle the country’s glory in the game of soccer, both in Africa and at the global stage.”

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