SUPER Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, has said he fully understood the weight of expectation placed on him when he agreed to take charge of Nigeria’s national football team, insisting that success is the only acceptable currency for survival in the job.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that the former Mali coach, who guided Nigeria to the African play-offs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an unbeaten six-game run four wins and two draws is gearing up for a decisive double assignment: the World Cup playoff later this month and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco next month.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with CAFOnline.com, Chelle said managing the Super Eagles is the biggest honour of his coaching career, noting that the team’s reputation across the world adds to the pressure for results.
“Nigeria is a massive team, arguably the best in Africa in sporting terms and aura,” the coach said. “For me, it’s a great source of pride.
“As I’ve often said, it feels like a World Cup for me. It’s an iconic national side, I was genuinely a supporter of this team.”
Chelle recalled being a young admirer during the 1998 World Cup in France, when the Super Eagles stunned the football world with a star-studded squad. “I even bought Nigeria shirts,” he added. “It’s a deep pride beyond words.”
With a fan base of over 230 million people who are passionate to the point of volatility, the coach said the pressure is intense because “Nigerians react quickly emotionally to everything.”
As part of his personal coping strategy, Chelle revealed he has withdrawn from social media and created a mental “bubble” around himself and the team.
“In national-team football, mentality is everything because time on the grass is limited,” he explained. “Camps are short, so we must anchor a shared mindset, it becomes the cement for every performance factor.”
He emphasized a people-first philosophy built on respect, unity, and strong values, insisting the squad is slowly building a strong identity around those principles.
Chelle described Group C, featuring Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as “tricky,” noting that all three teams have evolved significantly in recent years.
Still, he admitted Nigeria’s pedigree means expectations are high: “We are expected to deliver a great AFCON — that is the reality.”
The coach admitted Nigeria currently boasts an overwhelming attacking pool — more than 25 forwards capable of competing at international level.
His staff review more than 80 matches weekly, tracking about 80 players across top leagues to ensure the best selections.
“Selection comes down to several criteria: club minutes, performance, and tactical fit,” he said.
“For example, Ademola Lookman hadn’t played much early in the season, but you cannot name a squad without the African Player of the Year. He can change a game in 15 minutes.”
With a World Cup ticket within reach, Chelle said his immediate focus is clear — defeat Gabon and whoever emerges between Cameroon and DR Congo.
Only after that, he vowed, will attention fully shift to AFCON.
“When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything,” he stressed. “But we proceed with humility, with a smile, and a will to work.”
Looking ahead to Morocco, Chelle said the Super Eagles battle-hardened by pressure in recent months will be a difficult side to stop.
“Of course we want to win AFCON. Personally, I want to win AFCON,” he said. “If we arrive on the back of play-off success, stopping us will be difficult.”
Still, he acknowledged the strength of rivals like host nation Morocco, Tunisia and Côte d’Ivoire, while expressing confidence that Nigeria’s resilience and unity will make the difference.
“Our strength is that the players have suffered then found a way through. That alone can hurt opponents,” he concluded.