By appointing Eric Chelle as Super Eagles new coach, the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, has slapped Nigeria football; according to Samuel “Prophet” Elijah; npflupdates.com reports.
   The NFF last Tuesday announced ex Malian international Eric Chelle as new Super Eagles coach. The former Mali national team head coach will also take charge of the Super Eagles B team.
The revelation by the football house, left former Nigeria international Sam Elijah wondering.
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Elijah speaking in an interview with allnigeriasoccer.com, expressed his dissatisfaction with the NFF’s decision. c
According to Sam, Eric is not to be compared with interim manager Augustine Eguavoen.
What Elijah said about the NFF and Eric Chelle
“I don’t think this is the right appointment. We have a local coach (Austin Eguavoen) who has done well in our past matches,” Elijah said.
“He came and he redeemed the team. Now, they have been canvassing for a foreign coach all this while.
“I don’t know what the NFF is looking for, for me bringing Eric Chelle to take over the national team is a slap on our football.”
The former Flying Eagles player further questioned the credentials of Chelle, while also comparing his career to that of Eguavoen.
“Who is Eric Chelle compared to Austin Eguavoen, in any way? Look at the playing career, look at the two of them playing for their various national teams.
“How many caps does he have, what was his achievement the last time he took the national team to Côte d’Ivoire, he couldn’t get to the final,” Elijah added.
Speaking further, Sam emphasized that Eguavoen was the better option for the national team; citing the players’ trust in the local coach and the positive impact he had since taking charge and qualifying the team for the 2026 AFCON.
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“Eric Chelle is not the right appointment, he is not the right person for us. So we should stick to our local coaches. Austin Eguavoen has the pedigree, he has what it takes, the boys trust him, and they have confidence in him. So when he came in, the boys were ready to play for him, and they were doing well,” Elijah said.
Eric Chelle is expected to arrive Abuja this weekend to finalise the deal and be unveiled by the NFF.
