It’s been just six months since Eric Chelle took the reins as head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, but his impact is already sparking conversations across the country’s football space.
And for Nantes winger Moses Simon, the difference between Chelle and his predecessors couldn’t be clearer.
Appointed in January, Chelle made history as the first non-Nigerian African to lead the Super Eagles – a bold move that initially triggered scepticism among fans of the proud footballing nation. But the Franco-Malian coach has silenced many of his doubters with an unbeaten start across four games.
Under his stewardship, Nigeria have beaten Rwanda, Ghana, and Jamaica, with only a solitary home draw against Zimbabwe marring an otherwise perfect record.
The wins over Ghana’s Black Stars and Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz culminated in Nigeria lifting the Unity Cup in London last weekend — their first piece of silverware in over a decade.
While the results are impressive, it’s the radical change in style that has caught the eye.
Gone is the overly conservative, reactive approach that previously defined the team. In its place, Chelle has instilled an aggressive, high-pressing identity that’s bringing out the best in the squad.
“Just go and kill” – Moses Simon reveals Eric Chelle’s brutal war plan rewiring Super Eagles’ mentality
It’s a new system that excites Simon.
“Actually, he (Chelle) brought in good mentality in the team, fighting spirits, he always talks about war,” Simon told Soccernet.ng, reflecting on the transformation.
“And the war for him is not about you take the gun you shoot, you know, he said to us just go and kill first. The first 45 minutes we won the game instantly. The second half if we want to play, we play.
“He brought his own philosophy and some French mentality like aggressivity in the game, and I feel it’s working for us. You can see in the first half, if we bury you first half, I don’t think you’re gonna come up second half.”
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Simon, one of the most experienced players in the current squad, has been through several coaching changes — but Chelle’s methods stand out for their directness, clarity, and psychological edge.
Chelle’s next major test will be this Friday when the Super Eagles face Russia in an international friendly in Moscow — a daunting fixture against a side currently in red-hot form.
While Nigeria have shown flashes of promise under Chelle, Russia have been on a ruthless rampage in their recent friendlies.
In their last six matches, the European giants have steamrolled their opponents: Belarus (5-0), Vietnam (3-0), Brunei (11-0), Syria (4-0), and a pair of 5-0 wins over Grenada and Zambia as recently as March 2025.
And with the Super Eagles missing key stars including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Friday’s clash will be a stern examination of Chelle’s new-look side.
The friendly will not only test the physical and tactical readiness of the team, but also the mental grit and unity that Chelle has been credited for rebuilding in recent months.
For now, optimism is growing around the Super Eagles camp — but whether this fresh wave of belief can weather the Russian storm remains to be seen.