The recent appointment of Eric Chelle as Head Coach of the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has drawn criticism from ex-internationals and football enthusiasts, who question the suitability of the former Mali coach for the role.
Concerns Over Chelle’s Track Record
Kadiri Ikhana, former Super Falcons coach and ex-international, expressed disappointment in the NFF’s decision, arguing that Chelle’s credentials do not surpass those of Nigerian indigenous coaches.
“I think it is a terrible decision because Eric Chelle is not better than our local coaches. If we don’t give our local coaches the chance to grow, how do they develop?” said Ikhana, who famously led Enyimba to win the African Champions League in 2003. He stressed the importance of providing homegrown coaches with opportunities to gain experience at the international level.
Similarly, Harrison Jalla, Chairman of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force, criticized the appointment, citing Chelle’s underwhelming performance with the Malian national team.
“This is a coach that was sacked by the Malian Football Federation for poor performance. Out of five World Cup qualification games, he won only one, leaving Mali in an impossible position,” Jalla remarked. “If we want to hire a coach, it should be someone superior to our homegrown coaches.”
Call to Support Indigenous Coaches
Both Ikhana and Jalla emphasized the need for the NFF to prioritize and support local coaches, many of whom have demonstrated success in domestic leagues and international assignments. They argued that neglecting local talent stunts the development of Nigerian coaching on the global stage.
Fans React
Some fans have echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the NFF should have retained the previous coaching crew led by Augustine Eguavoen, who they believe deserved more time and resources to build on their efforts.
NFF’s Rationale Awaited
As criticism mounts, the NFF is yet to provide a detailed explanation for Chelle’s selection, leaving many stakeholders in Nigerian football eager for clarification on the decision-making process behind the appointment.