Newly appointed Super Eagles head coach Eric Sekou Chelle will embark on a tour of Europe next week to meet with senior players of the Nigerian national team, Soccernet.football understands.
The Franco-Malian tactician, unveiled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja on Monday, is determined to lay the foundation for success as he takes charge of the three-time African champions.
Chelle, 47, will first oversee the Home Eagles’ preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) at their training camp in Ikenne, Ogun State, before heading to France this weekend. In France, he is scheduled to watch winger Moses Simon in action for Nantes during a Ligue 1 fixture.
The coach’s European itinerary includes visits to meet Super Eagles stars such as Victor Osimhen in Turkey, Alex Iwobi in England, Victor Boniface in Germany, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Nathan Tella, among others.
These meetings aim to discuss his vision for the team as they prepare for major challenges, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Chelle will return to Nigeria before the end of the month to accompany the Home Eagles to CHAN 2024, where he will take on a supervisory role alongside the team’s technical crew, led by Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu.
The NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in Chelle’s involvement with the CHAN squad.
“The idea is for the new head coach to collaborate with his assistants who qualified the team for CHAN. This will also allow him to identify talents who could eventually transition to the senior team,” Gusau explained.
Chelle’s ultimate mandate is to guide Nigeria to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The NFF has called for nationwide support for the coach as he embarks on his two-year tenure with the Super Eagles.