Éric Chelle denies Marseille rumors

Nigeria national team head coach Éric Chelle has denied rumors linking him with the Olympique de Marseille job. The French Ligue 1 side, Olympique de Marseille, has appointed former Senegal right-back Habib Beye as head coach to replace the departed Italian tactician Roberto De Zerbi.

Chelle, 48, was one of the names circulating for the Marseille job following De Zerbi’s departure. The Franco-Malian-Ivorian coach categorically denied the rumors in an interview with Canal+.

Chelle said he was never contacted by Marseille: “There are strong accusations that I went to Nigeria and lied, saying that OM was interested in me, to use that in negotiations. As we speak, I am still the coach of Nigeria. There are negotiations underway, as they were planned. But I have never been in contact with OM,” Chelle stated.

Chelle is still in talks with the Nigerian Football Federation over a contract renewal after leading the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Chelle added that contact between his agent and Marseille might have occurred but revealed that he is not aware of it. “If there was contact with my agent, you would have to ask him.”

🚨 “On m’accuse d’avoir menti en disant que l’OM était intéressé par moi pour renégocier mon contrat avec le Nigéria…”

Éric Chelle dément tout contact avec l’Olympique de Marseille. #TDA pic.twitter.com/DkqkwcyxYj

— CANAL+ SPORT Afrique (@cplussportafr) March 2, 2026

The former Mali national team player and coach has been in charge of Nigeria since 2025.