“Most annoying thing” – Ex-Super Eagles star reveals the only reason Eric Chelle accepted Nigeria job
January 24 2024: Eric Chelle Mali // during a African Cup of Nations Group E game, Namibia vs Mali, at Stade Laurent Pokou, San Pedro, Ivory Coast. Photo by IMAGO
Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has openly criticised the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to appoint French-born Eric Chelle as the head coach of the Nigerian national team.
Speaking on Brila FM’s No Holds Barred, Udeze expressed his displeasure, suggesting that Chelle’s motivation for accepting the role lies in personal career advancement rather than leading Nigeria to success.
“The most annoying thing is that Augustine Eguavoen, who was our interim coach, has a better CV than this Eric Chelle,” Udeze remarked.
“A coach Mali sacked for a poor run in the World Cup qualifiers – does he deserve this job? He took the job to enhance his CV.
“He doesn’t care whether we qualify for the World Cup or not. That’s the only reason he accepted the job.”
Chelle, 47, replaces Augustine Eguavoen, who served as interim coach after Finidi George’s tenure ended last year.
While Eguavoen had his critics during his time at the helm, Udeze believes he was a more suitable candidate for the position.
Despite Udeze’s criticism, Chelle boasts some achievements from his time with Mali.
Under his stewardship, the Eagles qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and reached the tournament’s quarterfinals, playing a dynamic and attractive style of football.
Interestingly, Chelle’s Mali defeated Nigeria 2-0 in a post-AFCON friendly, a performance that demonstrated his tactical ability against a Super Eagles side fresh from a morale-boosting win over Ghana.
However, his tenure with Mali ended prematurely after poor results in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, leading to his dismissal.
As Chelle takes charge of the Super Eagles, he faces immense pressure to deliver, particularly in the remaining World Cup qualifying matches.
