Nigeria: Ex-Mali coach, who provided one of the most iconic AFCON 2023 moments, targets Super Eagles job

Former RC Lens defender Éric Sékou Chelle has reportedly expressed interest in taking up the Super Eagles job days after leaving his post as head coach of the Mali national team, Soccernet.ng understands.

The Super Eagles head coach position is currently vacant since Finidi George resigned following a frustrating June when Nigeria failed to beat South Africa and lost to the Benin Republic.

While the Nigeria Football Federation is yet to make its position clear about Finidi’s resignation, the former AFC Ajax star has already taken up a new job as chief coach of NPFL moneybags Rivers United FC.

With the NFF reportedly keen on appointing a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, several tacticians have been showing interest in handling the three-time African champions.

The latest name making the rounds with interest in being the Super Eagles’ next coach is 46-year-old Éric Chelle.

Éric Chelle was the coach of Mali for the past two years before he was dismissed on June 13, 2024.

Chelle led Mali to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and provided one of the tournament’s most iconic moments.

Many can still recall Chelle squatting and crying while having water poured on his head when Mali, who looked to be cruising to the semifinals, were shocked in the closing stages by a dramatic Cote d’Ivoire comeback.

Mali retained Chelle after the AFCON and he was in charge when Les Aigles secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Finidi-tutored Super Eagles in March.

However, failure to beat Ghana and Madagascar during the World Cup qualifiers in June cost him his job.

Now, according to ScoreNigeria, Chelle has applied to take over from Finidi as the Super Eagles head coach.

Born in Cote d’Ivoire to a French father and a Malian mother, Chelle was eligible to play for the three countries.

He eventually represented Mali, earning five caps before he retired.

Chelle spent his whole career playing for French clubs including Valenciennes and Lens and he has also handled a few French clubs since becoming a manager in 2014.

While in charge of Mali, the former Chamois Niortais centre-back recorded 14 victories, five draws, and three losses.