From John Finch to Éric Chelle: Who are the 37 coaches that have led the Super Eagles?
Nigerianische Nationalmannschaft, hi.v.li.: xx, Augustine Eguavoen, Torwart Wilfred Agbonavbare, Uche Okechukwu, Daniel Amokachi, Torwart Alloysius Agu, xx, Issac Semitoje, Barnabas Imenger, Augustine -Jay Jay- Okocha, xx, xx, Trainer Clemens Westerhof; vo.v.li.: Thompson Oliha, Ben Iroha, Finidi George, Abdul Sule, xx, Rashidi Yekini, Mutiu Adepoju [Photo credit/Imago]
The appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles makes him the 37th coach to take charge of Nigeria’s senior national football team.
Over the decades, the Super Eagles have been led by a mix of foreign and local coaches who have played their part in contributing uniquely to the journey of the team.
Since John Finch became the first official coach of the national team in 1949, the Super Eagles have seen over 40 managerial changes.
From early pioneers like Daniel Anyiam, the first Nigerian coach, to globally renowned tacticians like Clemens Westerhof, each era has shaped the identity of Nigerian football.
The Foreign Influence on the Super Eagles team
Foreign coaches have often been brought in to steer the team to greater heights. Coaches like Otto Glória (Brazil), who led Nigeria to its first AFCON title in 1980, and Clemens Westerhof (Netherlands), who masterminded the team’s golden era winning the 1994 AFCON tournament and World Cup debut, kickstarted the global mindset of the Nigerian team.
Notable others include Philippe Troussier (France), who brought technical discipline, Berti Vogts (Germany), and most recently, José Peseiro (Portugal), who guided the Super Eagles to the final of the 2023 AFCON tournament.
The Role of Local Coaches
It would be unfair to ignore the impact of the local coaches, who have also been integral to the Super Eagles’ success.
Stephen Keshi’s historic 2013 AFCON victory remains one of Nigeria’s proudest moments. Adegboye Onigbinde, Christian Chukwu, and Samson Siasia have also left legacies on the team.
Can Éric Chelle do it?
Officially today, Chelle takes over the reins of the Super Eagles in 2025 and has been tasked with building on the efforts of his predecessors.
With experience managing the Malian national team and several football clubs, including MC Oran, the Frenchman brings a fresh perspective to the Super Eagles.
First off, the Malian, in a supervisory role, will lead the CHAN Eagles to the African Nations Championship, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. After that, he faces a bigger challenge in March, leading the Super Eagles in a must-win 2026 World Cup qualifying clash against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The former Lens defender will be hoping to start on a positive note and revive hope of a World Cup ticket within the Nigerian football community.
