Former Mali coach, Eric Chelle is back in the reckoning as a Super Eagles Coach as reports from Mali say his agent is in Abuja.
Drissa Niono, a Malian sports journalist with Radio Lampert disclosed on his X formerly Twitter handle today.
Reprise des négociations entre le Nigéria et l’agent de l’ex sélectionneur du Mali 🇲🇱 qui se trouve présentement à Abuja. https://t.co/hjzhnN4eVF
— Drissa Niono (@drissaniono) January 7, 2025
Writing in French, Drissa revealed that Chelle’s agent is in Abuja, negotiating with the Nigeria Football Federation.
Translation:
“Resumption of negotiations between Nigeria and the agent of the former Mali coach who is currently in Abuja.”
Earlier in July, Eric Chelle was part of a shortlist of coaches for the vacant position before the NFF chose Finidi George.
Several conversations were held with Eric who also had advances from the Malian federation and a club in France.
After losing out on the Nigerian Job, Chelle joined the Algerian club, MC Oran as head coach on October 9th, 2024.
Also, Chelle took Mali to the 2024 AFCON, where the team lost to host, Cote D’Ivoire in the quarter-final stage.
Since the breakdown in agreements with German Bruno Labbadia, Nigeria has been searching for a substantive coach.
Currently, Augustine Eguavoen, the technical head of the federation is in charge of the Super Eagles.
Who is Eric Chelle? and Coaching Background
Chelle was born in Cote D’Ivoire to a French father and a Malian mother, he played his entire professional career in France and won six caps for Mali between 2003 and 2006.
His previous job as a coach before getting the job of the head coach of Mali includes working as a youth coach at Marseille Consolat, before coaching spells at Martigues and Boulogne in the French lower divisions.
