Newly appointed head coach of the Nigerian national team, Eric Chelle, ended what could be his final match in charge of MC Oran with a gritty 1-0 victory over Union Sportive de Sétif in the Coupe d’Algérie Round of 32 on Saturday evening.

The Malian tactician was announced last week as the Super Eagles head coach following an agreement with the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF. However, at the time of his appointment, Chelle was still serving as MC Oran’s head coach, a role he has held since October 2024.

Ahead of the cup tie, MC Oran confirmed that Chelle would remain in charge for the match against US Sétif, with a decision on his future to be made in a meeting afterwards.

Despite facing criticism from Nigerian fans and pundits questioning his ability to lead the three-time African champions, Chelle showcased his credentials by guiding MC Oran to a hard-fought victory.

Merouane Dahar’s 51st-minute penalty secured the win, sealing Oran’s place in the Round of 16 and possibly serving as a preview of what Chelle could bring to the Super Eagles.

The result improved Chelle’s record at MC Oran to six wins, two draws, and five losses in 13 matches. Before his stint in Algeria, Chelle had an impressive tenure with Mali, recording 14 wins, five draws, and three losses before his dismissal in June.

Chelle’s new challenge with the Super Eagles begins in March with World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda on March 17 and Zimbabwe on March 24.

The Super Eagles are currently fifth in their six-team group, with just three points from four matches in a group that includes Rwanda, Benin, South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.

Winning over Nigerian fans and delivering results will be a tough task, but Chelle will need to rely on his coaching experience and tactical acumen to navigate the challenges ahead.