Ex-Internationals fault Chelle’s appointment as Super Eagles gaffer

Some ex-Internationals have expressed concern over the choice of the Nigeria Football federation (NFF) to appointment former Mali coach Éric Chelle as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the appointment of the 47-year-old Malian was announced on Tuesday.

The ex-Internationals told NAN in separate interviews on Wednesday that the new coach does not possess the qualities to lead the Super Eagles.

Kadiri Ikhana, an ex-international and former Super Falcons coach said that he was disappointed at the choice of the new gaffer.

He decried the fact that the NFF has not given home grown coaches the chance to showcase their qualities on the big stage.

According to him, Chelle does not possess better records than Nigerian Indigenous coaches, thereby questioning why such appointment was made.

“I think it is a terrible decision because Eric Chelle is not better than our local coaches, and if we don’t give our local coaches the chance to grow, how do they develop.

“There are many home grown coaches who have proved themselves in the league and most importantly at international assignment, but strangely they are ignored by NFF.

“They need this type of opportunity to gather enough experience and prove themselves at the international level, sincerely I am not happy about this,”Ikhana who guided Enyimba to lift the African Champions League in 2003 said.

Similarly, Harrison Jalla, an ex-international and Chairman, Professionals Football Association of Nigeria, Task Force said the decision left much to be desired.

He noted that Chelle did not achieve much as Mali coach, where he failed at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and also the on-going 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.

“Sincerely I don’t know