SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has expressed his love for Nigeria, revealing that he supported the national team long before taking the job.
Chelle is a former Mali international and the first coach of African descent (other than Nigerians) to take charge of the Super Eagles.
Since taking over from Finidi George as substantive head coach in January, Chelle has overseen a turnaround in the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, landing them in the play-offs after winning four games and drawing two.
Chelle will be leading the Super Eagles to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in December, one month after next week’s African World Cup play-offs in the same country, and his target is to be successful in both.
In an interview with CAFOnline.com, the Malian explained how it felt to be handling one of Africa’s most prominent national teams.
“It’s something huge. Nigeria is a massive team — arguably the best in Africa in sporting terms and aura, in many respects,” Chelle said.
“For me, it’s a great source of pride. As I’ve often said, it feels like a World Cup for me. It’s an iconic national side. It resonates even more because I was genuinely a supporter of this team.
“I remember the 1998 World Cup in France: they had a fantastic side. I even bought Nigeria shirts. For me, it’s a deep pride — beyond words.”
Having coached Mali at the last AFCON where they reached the quarter-finals, Chelle now feels at home enough to refer to himself as a Nigerian.
He added: “As I often say, it’s my DNA. Looking back on my career, this goes beyond football. Coming to coach in Africa, taking that step, it’s more than sport.
“I use football to carry a message: that everyone can live together. It’s not about origin or religion; it’s about respect for the individual.
“Yes, it made waves that a Malian is in charge of Nigeria, but I’m simply trying to do my job with humility and respect. I arrived as someone who is 50% Malian, 50% French.
“But today I am in Nigeria; I consider myself Nigerian and I’m ready to give everything for this team and country. I’m focused on respecting each person and moving forward carefully with clear personal goals.
“First, the sheer scale (of Nigeria surprised me)! It’s a very passionate country that loves football and knows the game well.
“There are 230 million Nigerians — which means 230 million coaches, journalists and decision-makers!
“Expectations are high and the pressure is intense. The fans are very emotional and react quickly — that can be great, but also risky. I had to adapt fast, create a bubble around myself to stay focused on my objectives.
“I’ve been off social media for a while, so I avoid the noise and concentrate on work with my technical staff. We’re moving step by step. We haven’t achieved anything yet; we’ve climbed one step and are working on the next.”
The Super Eagles missed out on the 2022 World Cup after falling at the play-offs stage, and have not won the AFCON title since 2013.
Chelle admits there is pressure to succeed in both, and he has found a way to handle it as he aims to achieve these targets.
“As I said, I created a bubble. I stay focused on my goals. Before AFCON, there’s a crucial target: the World Cup play-offs. The goal is to win those matches (against Gabon on November 13 and, if successful, the final on November 16).
“If we win the first, we’ll aim for the second, then turn to AFCON. We’re working in parallel, but our mindset must first be on those immediate tests.
“When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything. But we proceed with humility, with a smile and a will to work. This team has great players. If we stay serious, motivated and united, nothing is impossible.”