'A slap on our football'- Former Super Eagles star blasts NFF over appointment of Chelle

Former Super Eagles defender, Sam Elijah, has voiced strong criticism of the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) decision to appoint Eric Chelle as the head coach of Nigeria's senior men's national football team, the Super Eagles.

On Tuesday, the NFF Executive Committee officially endorsed the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee, appointing Mr. Éric Sékou Chelle as the new head coach.

Following the announcement, Chelle is reportedly set to sign his contract in Nigeria in the coming days and will lead the Super Eagles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March 2025.

Despite the NFF's optimism, the appointment has sparked mixed reactions across the country. 

While some Nigerians are hopeful about Chelle's arrival, others have voiced concerns, with many advocating for the appointment of a local coach instead.

Elijah, in an interview with allnigeriasoccer.com, expressed his dissatisfaction with the NFF's decision, condemning the hiring of Chelle and highlighting the value of homegrown coaching talent.

“I don't think this is the right appointment. We have a local coach (Austin Eguavoen) who has done well in our past matches," Elijah said.

"He came and he redeemed the team. Now, they have been canvassing for a foreign coach all this while. 

"I don't know what the NFF is looking for, for me bringing Eric Chelle to take over the national team is a slap on our football." 

Elijah further questioned the credentials of Chelle, comparing his career to that of Eguavoen, and argued that the former was not a suitable fit for the Super Eagles.

"Who is Eric Chelle compared to Austin Eguavoen, in any way? Look at the playing career, look at the two of them playing for their various national teams. 

"How many caps does he have, what was his achievement the last time he took the national team to Côte d'Ivoire, he couldn't get to the final," Elijah added.

The former Super Eagles defender went on to emphasize that Eguavoen was the better option for the national team, citing the players' trust in the local coach and the positive impact he had since taking charge.

"Eric Chelle is not the right appointment, he is not the right person for us. So we should stick to our local coaches. Austin Eguavoen has the pedigree, he has what it takes, the boys trust him, and they have confidence in him. So when he came in, the boys were ready to play for him, and they were doing well," Elijah said.

With the World Cup qualifiers just around the corner, Elijah believes the timing of the appointment is wrong, given that a new coach will need time to establish his methods and rapport with the team.

"We are talking of March, we have less than two months and you're bringing in a new coach. It is a wrong decision. 

"It is not the right time to appoint any coach because, if we need continuity, and in the few matches Eguavoen took over he did very well. 

"Those boys now have begun to play together and have confidence in themselves and the coach. So for me, it is the wrong timing," Elijah concluded.

Adeyemi Adewale

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