Shehu Dikko, the chairman of the National Sports Commission, has defended the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new coach of the Super Eagles, commending his outstanding managerial skills, particularly with the Malian national team.
The 47-year-old’s appointment by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sparked controversy, with some critics arguing that the governing body opted for a former Malian coach instead of choosing a Nigerian for the prestigious position.
Dikko stated that Chelle has a strong understanding of African football and is well-suited for the job. He emphasized that the upcoming World Cup qualifier is extremely crucial, with only three windows available to play the qualifying matches. Given the tight schedule, there’s no room for friendly or test matches, and the team will be facing fellow African nations like Zimbabwe, Rwanda, South Africa, Lesotho, and Benin. In this light, the only suitable candidate to lead the team is someone with extensive experience in African football, who can bring a fresh perspective. He urged that the new coach be evaluated based on his performance with national teams, rather than his club football record, as the two are distinct entities.
He explained, “Let’s examine Eric’s track record with the national team. As the coach of Mali, he achieved remarkable success, making the team a formidable force that commanded respect. Notably, Mali defeated Nigeria and South Africa in friendly matches during his tenure. His overall record with Mali is impressive, with 14 wins, 5 draws, and only 3 losses in 22 games. This demonstrates his credibility in managing a national team. Furthermore, in the World Cup qualifiers, outscoring opponents is crucial. Eric’s Mali team scored over 40 goals in 22 matches, while conceding only 12, showcasing his ability to balance attack and defense.”
“So, you can see the philosophy, he is also defending well and he is scoring very well. He was able to outscore his opponents. Even in the last AFCON, he lost by the miracle of the last minute by a mistake. It’s normal like that but he came with that credibility and that is the fact that he came with a new thinking to the team,” Dikko reiterated.
On Nigerians’ reaction, Dikko acknowledged that the backlash against the new coach’s appointment is expected, as Nigerian football fans are extremely passionate and opinionated, with many considering themselves as armchair experts who know best who should be at the helm the team.
