Ex-Internationals fault Chelle’s appointment as Super Eagles gaffer
by Ganiyu Mubarak · The Eagle OnlineSome ex-Internationals have faulted the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation to appoint a former Coach of Mali, Éric Chelle, as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the appointment of the 47-year-old Malian was announced by the football house on Tuesday.
The ex-Internationals told NAN in separate interviews on Wednesday that the new coach does not possess the qualities to lead the Super Eagles.
Kadiri Ikhana, an ex-international and former Super Falcons coach, said he was disappointed at the choice of the new gaffer.
Ikhana decried the fact that the NFF has not given home grown coaches the chance to showcase their qualities on the big stage.
According to him, Chelle does not possess better records than Nigerian Indigenous coaches, thereby questioning why such an appointment was made.
He said: “I think it is a terrible decision because Eric Chelle is not better than our local coaches.
“And if we don’t give our local coaches the chance to grow, how do they develop?
“There are many home grown coaches who have proved themselves in the league and most importantly at international assignments, but strangely they are ignored by the NFF.
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“They need this type of opportunity to gather enough experience and prove themselves at the international level.’’
“Sincerely, I am not happy about this.”
Ikhana had guided Enyimba FC of Aba to lift the African Champions League in 2003.
Similarly, Harrison Jalla, an ex-international and Chairman, Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria Task Force, said the decision left much to be desired.
He noted that Chelle did not achieve much as Mali coach, where he failed at the last Africa Cup of Nations and also the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Jalla said: “Sincerely, I don’t know the basis of this appointment.
“This is a coach that was sacked by the Malian Football Federation for poor performance.
“Out of five games, he made only one game in the FIFA World Cup qualifications.
“In fact, he lost at home and put Mali in an impossible position.
“If we want to hire a coach, we should hire a coach that is superior to our home based.
“In fact, I am disappointed at the NFF.
“Only them can explain to us what they saw in Chelle.”
NAN reports that Chelle, who won five caps for the Aiglons of Mali and coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne and MC Oran, has been Head Coach of the Aiglons since 2022.
He featured for clubs such as Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career.
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