The appointment of former Mali coach Éric Chelle as the Super Eagles’ new head coach has caused dissatisfaction among Aba football supporters.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ought to have kept the coaching staff under Augustine Eguavoen, according to several supporters who talked with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Wednesday.
According to NAN, Chelle was named the next head coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles on Tuesday by the NFF, who would help the country select a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Given the limited time until the World Cup qualification, football enthusiast Adindu Udeh stated that hiring a new coach at this time was not essential.
He believed that the NFF ought to have helped Eguavoen guide the Home Base Eagles through the World Cup qualifying round and to the CHAN championship.
Jude Obasi, another fan, expressed his surprise at the news and stated that he would have liked a native coach.
I like the indigenous coaches because they are familiar with the terrain, but we’re not sure what the former Malian coach will contribute.
“I know it will be difficult given Nigeria’s place on the table, so what will be our advantage if the new coach fails to lead us to the 2026 World Cup finals?” he asked.
According to Mercy Udekwe, the change is essential, but the coach should have been a seasoned European rather than an African.
“This NFF action will demoralize our homegrown coaches,” she added, adding that while other African nations are putting their trust in local coaches, we are taking them for granted.
However, Chimaobi Ihezue stated that he was worried about Nigeria’s qualification for the upcoming 2026 World Cup rather than opposing the hiring of a new coach.
Ihezue stated, “Let’s support Chelle if he takes us to the World Cup.”
Chelle, who earned five caps for the Mali Aiglons and has managed teams including GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran, has been the team’s head coach since 2022, according to NAN.
During his playing career, the 47-year-old played for Lens, Istres, Martigues, Valenciennes, and Chamois Niortais in France.