Newly appointed head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Eric Sekou Chelle, has opened up about how he secured the high-profile role, despite competition from several top candidates.
In an interview with CANAL+ Sport Afrique, the French-born tactician explained that he went through the formal application process like every other interested coach.
“After my departure from the Malian team, there was an open call for applications from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and I applied just like any other coach,” Chelle revealed.
“I was later invited to a coaches’ conference where I presented my project, my vision, and coaching philosophy.”
He admitted that the process took longer than expected, leading him to briefly return to France.
“I thought things would move faster, but due to certain events, there were delays. I left for Rouen, but then the opportunity came back, and I didn’t want to miss it — so I returned for this great project.”
Chelle also noted that negotiations intensified in the final stages, which helped solidify his decision.
“You could feel their determination during the final moments of negotiation. That was a big factor in my decision to accept the role,” he said. “Talks had been ongoing, but things accelerated quickly at the end, which probably caused quite a buzz.”
Chelle has already taken charge of the Super Eagles during their World Cup qualifying doubleheader against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
