President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has strongly supported Éric Sékou Chelle, the newly appointed Super Eagles head coach, calling on all Nigerians to rally behind him, Nigeriasoccernet.com gathered.
This was disclosed in a statement by Adeyinka Adeboye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, following the announcement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday.
The statement emphasized the importance of unity and collective effort to ensure the success of the Franco-Malian coach, who faces the challenge of restoring the Super Eagles to glory after a turbulent period.
Filling the Void in Leadership
The national team has lacked a substantive head coach since the resignation of former Super Eagles coach and ex-Ajax Amsterdam star Finidi George due to a disappointing run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Augustine Eguavoen, former Super Eagles defender and NFF Technical Director, served as interim coach during the team’s successful qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Chelle now steps into the role with a critical task: leading the three-time African champions to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Adeboye’s Call for Patience and Unity
In the statement, Adeboye appealed for patience and cooperation from all stakeholders in Nigerian football.
"I want to appeal to Nigerians to be patient with our new coach, Eric Seykou Chelle, whose appointment was announced by the NFF leadership. I believe he will succeed in this role. My office, alongside the National Sports Commission's Chairman and Director General, will provide full support to Chelle to elevate Nigerian football both in Africa and globally," Adeboye assured.
Highlighting the unifying power of football in Nigeria, Adeboye noted, "Football is one game that transcends religion, tribe, and ethnicity in our country. It’s crucial for us to support Chelle as he works towards qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2026 World Cup."
A Tough Road Ahead
The Super Eagles currently trail group leaders Rwanda by four points in the qualifiers. They are set to travel to Kigali for a crucial encounter before hosting Zimbabwe in March. Chelle faces significant pressure to deliver results and rekindle Nigeria’s hopes of securing a World Cup spot.
With President Tinubu’s endorsement and calls for national unity, Chelle embarks on this journey with the collective aspirations of a football-loving nation behind him.
Oluwayemi Omolagba