Victor Osimhen Advocates for Eric Chelle's Continued Leadership of Super Eagles
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has delivered a strong message to the Nigeria Football Federation regarding the future of head coach Eric Chelle. The Napoli striker has openly expressed his support for the Franco-Malian tactician, urging the NFF leadership to secure Chelle's services for the long term.
Chelle's Journey with the Super Eagles
Eric Chelle assumed the role of Super Eagles coach in January 2025, taking charge after Nigeria's disappointing performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The 48-year-old manager was tasked with the crucial mission of qualifying Nigeria for the Mundial, following the team's failure to secure a spot in the 2022 edition after a dramatic 1-1 draw against Ghana at Abuja's Moshood Abiola Stadium.
During the World Cup qualification campaign, Chelle demonstrated impressive tactical acumen, guiding the team to six victories and two draws. Despite finishing second behind South Africa's Bafana Bafana, his performance earned him the opportunity to lead Nigeria to the tournament proper, though the journey ended in a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo.
AFCON 2025 Bronze Medal Achievement
The Nigeria Football Federation set ambitious targets for Chelle ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, mandating that he guide the team to the tournament final. While falling short of this specific objective, Chelle successfully steered the three-time AFCON champions to a respectable third-place finish, securing bronze after a hard-fought victory over Egypt in the consolation match.
This achievement has prompted the NFF to initiate discussions about extending Chelle's contract, recognizing the progress made under his leadership despite not reaching the ultimate target.
Osimhen's Strong Endorsement
Victor Osimhen, one of Nigeria's most prominent football stars, has thrown his full support behind the coach. The Galatasaray forward praised Chelle's transformative impact on the team's playing style and expressed confidence that greater success lies ahead with continued leadership.
"In three, four, or even ten years, we will see his greatness and, of course, we will achieve more with that," Osimhen stated emphatically. "There's really more to come, and I'm happy to be one of the leaders. The Super Eagles really have more in store for themselves and their fans."
The striker highlighted the promising talent pool available to Nigeria, noting: "With the kind of players that we currently have, plus those who are still going to come and join us, we will have a better Super Eagles. I think we've got a bunch of talent already, and we still have many new players coming up from all around the world."
Player-Coach Relationship and Recent Success
Nigerian sports journalist Ayodeji Ismail, who observed the team during AFCON 2025 preparations in Morocco, confirmed the strong bond between Chelle and his players. "I was in Morocco to watch the Super Eagles and all I can say is that the players are used to Eric Chelle," Ismail revealed. "They are very free with him, and they listen to every instruction given to them. Chelle has been able to manage all the players irrespective of their differences and brought their best parts out."
This positive atmosphere has translated into on-field success, with Nigeria recently claiming the 2025 Unity Cup championship in London. The Super Eagles defeated Jamaica's Reggae Boyz 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time, with debutant Uche Chrisantus scoring the decisive spot-kick at the G Tech Community Stadium in Brentford.
As contract negotiations between the NFF and Eric Chelle progress, the vocal support from key players like Victor Osimhen adds significant weight to the argument for continuity in Nigeria's technical leadership.
