Eric Chelle, a former Mali manager, was named Nigeria’s next coach on Tuesday as the Super Eagles struggled to earn a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
In the previous year’s Africa Cup of Nations, Chelle, 47, guided Mali to the quarterfinals before falling 2-1 in extra time to the hosts and eventual winners, Ivory Coast.
Chelle played his whole playing career in France and earned five caps for Mali. He was fired in June of last year after taking over as Mali’s coach in 2022.
Nigeria is now winless after four games and second from bottom in their six-team group; his main goal is to turn around the team’s poor start to World Cup qualifying.
Nigeria are due to play surprise Group C leaders Rwanda and then Zimbabwe in their next qualifiers in March.
The three-time continental champions will head to Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December, having finished runners-up to Ivory Coast at the last edition.
