The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for appointing Éric Sékou Chelle, a former coach of Mali’s senior national team, as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, Clerk of the Senate, NANS National Headquarters, the student body described the appointment as an aberration, citing Chelle’s lack of a notable track record.
The NFF Executive Committee announced Chelle’s appointment on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. However, NANS expressed strong disapproval, calling the decision a “slap on the country” and arguing that more experienced coaches, both locally and internationally, were overlooked.
According to NANS, Chelle’s tenure as Mali’s head coach since 2022 yielded no significant achievements, as he failed to qualify the team for the World Cup or secure an African Cup of Nations title.
The association contended that Nigeria has several coaches with superior qualifications and urged the NFF to prioritize local talent if their focus is on African coaches. They called for a reconsideration of the decision, suggesting that the federation either appoint a Nigerian coach or look to Europe for a more qualified candidate.
NANS further emphasized the importance of nurturing and supporting local coaches by entrusting them with national responsibilities, instead of resorting to hiring what they termed as a “half-baked coach” from Africa.
Parts of the statement said,
“We all witnessed how the Malian National Team, the Aiglons, struggled, wobbled and stumbled at the 2024 African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
“NANS, therefore, wonders why the NFF will go for such a person as the coach of the Super Eagles.
“The 47-year-old featured for clubs such as Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career, without no laurel.
“As a nation, we need a coach that is versed and tactical, who can harness and blend the talents we parade in this country.
“We at NANS condemn this appointment as it falls short of standards our nation is known for, especially in the round leather game. Rather than giving Nigeria a half-baked or run-of-the-mill coach, the NFF can do better by appointing a Nigerian into the position of the coach of the Super Eagles.
“We seriously doubt if Chelle can secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, a major mandate given to him by the NFF.
“We call on the football federation to reconsider this appointment and give the country a Super Eagles coach that will rekindle the country’s glory in the game of soccer, both in Africa and at the global stage.”