Nantes forward Moses Simon has become the first Super Eagles player to publicly react to the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Nigerian national team.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF announced Chelle’s appointment following a coaching vacancy that had remained unfilled since June 2024, after Finidi George’s resignation as head coach.
Eric Chelle, a 47-year-old former defender who enjoyed a successful playing career in France with clubs such as Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais, now takes charge of Nigeria’s senior national team.
Chelle’s most notable coaching achievement was leading Mali close to a semi-final berth in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON held in Côte d’Ivoire.
Super Eagles winger Moses Simon extended a warm welcome to the new head coach via his official X account (formerly Twitter), writing in French: “Bienvenue au Nigéria” translated as “Welcome to Nigeria.”
Simon and the Super Eagles will be counting on Chelle to revitalize the team’s fortunes, especially as they face mounting challenges in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After four matches in the qualifiers, Nigeria is winless and sits fifth in their group, trailing behind Benin Republic, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Rwanda.
The Super Eagles must stage a significant comeback when the qualifiers resume in March 2025, beginning with fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Rwanda, who stunned Nigeria with a 2-1 victory in Uyo during AFCON qualifiers last November, will be a critical test for Chelle’s tenure as he seeks to restore the Super Eagles’ dominance and secure a spot at the global showpiece.
