Exclusive: Technical committee recommended Chelle, but Gusau has another coach in mind

A senior member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says the football house’s technical committee has recommended the hiring of former Mali coach Eric Chelle as the new coach of the Nigeria senior national team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The Super Eagles have been left without a substantial coach since the departure of Finidi George as head coach of the team following the disappointment of the last round of World Cup qualifiers.

Three candidates, Steve McClaren, Eric Chelle and Tom Saintfeit, were interviewed by the NFF technical committee, but McClaren ruled himself out of the race by accepting the vacant Jamaica senior national team job two days ago.

The former Mali Chelle coach was chosen ahead of Saintfeit, who currently holds the post of Philippines coach. However, this choice is said not to be final as it still needs to be approved by NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau.

According to what we have been able to learn exclusively, Gusau has another coach in mind and will gladly overrule the committee’s decision as he did when Finidi was appointed as coach, ahead of the coaches recommended by the football body’s technical arm.

A senior board member said the decision was in the hands of the president because he has the power to approve or reject any request from the various branches of the footballing house. He said everything seemed to indicate that the coach had another candidate in mind.

He said the identity of that option is not known, but talks about his possible commitment are ongoing and that is why the president said a new coach will be announced soon.

Mohamed Mowiz Suleiman