NFF President Gusau backs Nigeria coach Eric Chelle

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Ibrahim Gusau, has expressed his full support behind Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, reaffirming the federation’s commitment to the French-born tactician despite the national team’s current struggles.

Gusau’s declaration comes as a strong vote of confidence for Chelle, who remains unbeaten since taking the reins of the Super Eagles.

Chelle took charge of the national team following the departure of interim manager Austin Eguavoen. The NFF president elaborated on the federation’s strategy and rationale behind Chelle’s dual role, which also sees him managing the CHAN Eagles.

“We are doing our best to provide Eric Chelle with everything he needs to succeed.

“We gave him the responsibility of handling the CHAN Eagles so he could properly assess potential talents for the main squad. This allows him to have a broader pool of players to consider for the Super Eagles.”

Gusau further detailed the collaborative approach taken with the coach, as the 47-year-old assured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“I asked him what he needed to succeed, and he said he wanted all his assistants to join him. I said, ‘Fine.’ He took over the team in a tough situation something many coaches would have turned down. Despite all the difficulties, he has assured me that we will qualify for the World Cup. We have no intention of making last-minute coaching decisions, as we understand how risky that can be.”

The Super Eagles are currently ranked 44th in the FIFA World Rankings, placing them as the fifth-best team in Africa. Their next fixture is a 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda on September 1, 2025, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

Chelle will be in charge of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) team, who are set to participate in the upcoming 2024 CHAN finals in August with their first group stage match against Senegal on August 5 at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.