Former Gombe FA Chairman, Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Nigeria Football Federation’s, NFF decision to appoint Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

After over seven months without a permanent coach, the NFF announced the appointment of Chelle on Tuesday evening, bringing an end to the prolonged search.

However, the decision has sparked widespread scepticism among fans and stakeholders, with many questioning Chelle’s qualifications and suitability for the high-stakes role.

In an interview with Brila.net, Gara-Gombe described the appointment as a “wrong step,” criticizing the NFF for failing to secure a more experienced tactician despite the time and resources at their disposal.

“Who is Chelle? Who knows him? What are his antecedents? Nothing!

For goodness’ sake, since AFCON we couldn’t get a coach, and now we end up with a kindergarten coach to manage the world-class players we have.

It’s unfortunate for Nigeria,” he remarked.

Gara-Gombe added that retaining Augustine Eguavoen would have been a more sensible choice, as Chelle does not inspire the confidence required to manage the Super Eagles effectively.

Chelle, a former Malian international, is the first non-Nigerian African coach to take charge of the Super Eagles.

While his most notable managerial achievement was leading Mali to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, critics argue that his limited experience makes him an underwhelming choice for the Super Eagles’ demanding role.

The 47-year-old tactician now faces the daunting task of steering Nigeria through the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.

With the Super Eagles winless in Group C after four matches, Chelle must hit the ground running as the qualifiers resume in March with crucial matches against Rwanda and other group rivals.

His appointment comes at a critical time, with Nigeria desperate to avoid missing a second consecutive World Cup following their failure to qualify for Qatar 2022.