Insights into new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, his style of play and why he was sacked from Mali

Barring a last-minute change of heart, 46-year-old Malian coach Eric Chelle will be appointed as the new head coach of the Nigerian senior national team before the end of this week, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Chelle is the favourite to take the job ahead of Belgium’s Tom Saintfeit and England’s Steve McClaren, who recently took up the vacant post of Jamaica’s national team coach.

Nigeria will offer the former Mali coach a short-term contract that will cover the qualifying period for the African Cup of Nations. The deal will be results-oriented, meaning the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) can terminate the contract if the team’s performance declines.

But who is Eric Chelle?

Born in the Ivory Coast to a French father and a Malian mother, he played his entire professional career in France and was capped six times by Mali between 2003 and 2006.

His previous coaching work prior to landing the head coaching job at Mali includes working as a youth coach at Marseille Consolat, before coaching at Martigues and Boulogne in the French lower divisions.

In the race to be appointed Mali coach in 2022, the 47-year-old was the favourite ahead of Nigeria’s senior German duo Gernot Rohr and also former Cameroonian Winfred Schafer.

Chelle replaced Mohammed Magassouba as Mali coach and managed the team for two years until he was sacked in June following a 0-0 draw against Madagascar. The result followed a 2-1 defeat to Ghana in World Cup qualifying which saw them drop to fourth in their group, four points behind surprise group leaders Comoros.

An apostle of fluid football with wingers in a 4-4-2, the former UEFA Pro-licensed defender is not a slave to any particular tactic, but in all his formations he feels most at home playing with two strikers.

During his time as Mali’s coach, the team played with a two-man attack, as he is a firm believer that attacking is the best way to defend. His idea paid off, as the team kept ten clean sheets under his guidance.

In 22 matches as Mali’s coach, the team won 14 matches, drew five and lost three times. He scored 36 goals and conceded 12.