Eric Chelle

Éric Sékou Chelle (born 11 November 1977) is a football manager and former player who played for the Malian national team, and currently serves as head coach of Nigeria international football. Quotes I want to thank my agent, the NFF, the NSC and indeed all Nigerians for this big opportunity. Coaching the Super Eagles of Nigeria is an amazing job; I do not take this appointment for granted. I am elated and will do my utmost best. Football is about scoring goals, so I favour an attacking style. I know the expectations of Nigerians and I will settle down and work diligently with assistants towards the goal of qualifying the Super Eagles to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Says football is about scoring goals, January 13 2025 It’s something huge. Nigeria is a massive team — arguably the best in Africa in sporting terms and aura, in many respects. For me, it’s a great source of pride. As I’ve often said, it feels like a World Cup for me. It’s an iconic national side. It resonates even more because I was genuinely a supporter of this team. I remember the 1998 World Cup in France: they had a fantastic side. I even bought Nigeria shirts. For me, it’s a deep pride — beyond words. As I often say, it’s my DNA. Looking back on my career, this goes beyond football. Coming to coach in Africa, taking that step, it’s more than sport. I use football to carry a message: that everyone can live together. It’s not about origin or religion; it’s about respect for the individual. Yes, it made waves that a Malian is in charge of Nigeria, but I’m simply trying to do my job with humility and respect. I arrived as someone who is 50% Malian, 50% French. But today I am in Nigeria; I consider myself Nigerian and I’m ready to give everything for this team and country. I’m focused on respecting each person and moving forward carefully with clear personal goals. First, the sheer scale! It’s a very passionate country that loves football and knows the game well. There are 230 million Nigerians — which means 230 million coaches, journalists and decision-makers! Expectations are high and the pressure is intense. The fans are very emotional and react quickly — that can be great, but also risky. I had to adapt fast, create a bubble around myself to stay focused on my objectives. I’ve been off social media for a while, so I avoid the noise and concentrate on work with my technical staff. We’re moving step by step. We haven’t achieved anything yet; we’ve climbed one step and are working on the next. I’m not sure one word is enough. At the draw I spoke of a “revenge-minded” team, but really the mindset is broader. In national-team football, mentality is everything because time on the grass is limited. Camps are short, so we must anchor that shared mindset — it becomes the cement for every performance factor. I shared my own definition of that mindset with the players, and I think they’re taking it on board. It’s not only tactics or technique; it’s about values. And this team is starting to identify with those values. Éric Sékou Chelle: “When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything.”,November 03 2025 External links Category:1977 births Category:Football (soccer) coaches Category:Soccer players from Ivory Coast Category:Living people