Fans slam NFF over choice of Eric Chelle as Super Eagles coach

The appointment of Eric Sékou Chelle as the new Super Eagles coach by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been met with widespread criticism from Nigerian football fans.

The NFF announced the appointment on Tuesday, January 7, but the decision has been met with widespread discontent among Nigerian football fans, many of whom labelled Chelle a “French Ligue 2 veteran” and questioned his credentials.

Read Also: Five things to know about Eric Chelle, new Super Eagles coach

Chelle’s record as Mali’s coach came under scrutiny, with critics pointing to his performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Mali came close to reaching the semi-finals but lost 2-1 to eventual champions Ivory Coast after extra time, despite leading until the final minute of regulation time.

Read Also: NFF confirms Éric Sékou Chelle as Super Eagles coach

Many football enthusiasts took to social media to vent their anger and frustration at NFF’s decision on Chelle as Super Eagles coach.

Dear Purple (@MOnwuchekwa) said: “Again? Hire a very mid foreign coach, and pay him very hefty wages, he comes, underperforms, and is happy to even be sacked and collect very hefty compensations. We appoint a home-based caretaker coach who does the job better, and after a while sack him for another dull@rd who is not Nigerian.”

Vindicated Chidi (@Vindicatedchidi) sees Chelle’s appointment as a slap on Nigerian coaches.
“This is an insult to Nigerian coaches. So no Nigerian coach is as good or better than this Malian? No offense or disrespect to him though, but this is unacceptable. We also need a foreign NFF president. It has to go round.”

WIZZ POLL (@WIZZ_POLL) added: “The foreign coach Nigeria hired to rescue our World Cup qualifier campaign is a Malian sacked by Mali after he lost 2-1 to Ghana in this same 2026 World Cup qualifiers!”
Golden Son of Ibeju Lekki (@Horlartunjee1) faults NFF’s process of hiring a foreign coach for the national team.

“I don’t like how the NFF hires coaches in Nigeria without providing the public with full details of their contracts. How many years has he signed for? What objectives have they agreed upon? What is his salary? These are the things that should be disclosed to the public when announcing a new coach for the national team.”

Nemesis (@NEMESIS82093991) tags it as shameful.
“You mean no Nigerian can handle the Super Eagles? This is shameful.”

Olalekan Salami (@lokonsolomo) added:
“What a disgrace. So, after all these time-wasting processes, this is the outcome of their various meetings. A second-tier coach, or should I say, 4th-tier coach.”

The NFF now faces the challenge of addressing the concerns of Nigerian football fans and demonstrating that the appointment of Éric Chelle is the best decision for the future of the Super Eagles.