Former Nigerian international Mutiu Adepoju has urged the Super Eagles players to give their support to the newly appointed coach, Eric Chelle.
Chelle is expected in Abuja on Sunday to finalize the details of his contract.
The 47-year-old was named the new Super Eagles head coach by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday following the recommendation of its technical and development sub-committee for the appointment of the former Mali’s national team handler as Super Eagles head coach.
The Super Eagles have been without a substantive head coach since the exit of Jose Peseiro after expiration of his contract at the conclusion of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations early last year in Cote d’Ivoire.
Ex-Nigerian international Augustine Eguavoen served as the team’s interim head coach through the first stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and oversaw Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations last year.
In a chat with Brila FM, Adepoju appealed to Nigerians and the players to rally round Chelle so that he can be successful.
I think the best thing we can do at the moment is for the Super Eagles to support the new coach, Eric Chelle, and hope all works out well.
“Nevertheless, I think the NFF has taken a decision, thinking that it’s the right decision.”
Chelle is expected in Abuja on Sunday to finalise details of his contract. He will come to Nigeria with three of his trusted assistants who worked with him during his reign in charge of the Malian national team, the Eagles. The trio were also with Chelle during his time with MC Oran.
He is also expected to work with local assistants picked by the NFF.
Chelle’s immediate task is to ensure Nigeria qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which is definitely an almost impossible job, given that the Eagles currently sit fifth on the Group C qualifying table and must win all their remaining matches in the qualifiers to have any hope of participating in the tournament.
