Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh insists Eric Chelle is still the right choice to lead the national team, despite missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, SportPremi reports.
Eric Chelle was appointed in January to help turn the country’s World Cup qualifying campaign around after a dismal start.
The former Mali coach won four of the last six qualifying matches and remains unbeaten in normal time while at the dugout of the Nigerian senior team.
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Nigeria will not participate at next year’s showpiece tournament, following their defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the CAF playoff final.
The Leopards edged the tie on penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw to advance to the intercontinental playoffs where they will face the winner of the clash between New Caledonia and Jamaica, as they hope to qualify for the World Cup.
The Super Eagles had finished second in their group, with South Africa clinching the available automatic ticket, and qualified for the playoff rounds alongside Gabon, Cameroon and DR Congo as the best-ranked group runners-up.
They defeated Gabon 4-1 in the first round, before losing via penalty shootout in the final to end their hopes of playing at the world biggest football tournament.
It marked a second consecutive edition that the three-time African champions will fail to qualify for, after also missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Up next, the Super Eagles will hope to bounce back from disappointment at next month’s African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.
Oliseh backs Chelle for glory
Sunday Oliseh, managed the Nigerian national team between 2015 and 2016, before departing after falling out with the NFF.
The 51-year-old revealed that he had initial doubts about Eric Chelle’s appointment, although he now believes the former Mali head coach can lead the country to success.
“I am one of those, in reality, was totally unhappy when he was appointed, but I must be honest with you that so far, he has won me over,” the 51-year-old admitted.
“I feel like the man has really given it a lot, he’s done a lot, and he’s picked up some points, better than any of the two people that preceded him.”
AFCON 2025 next for Nigeria
Nigeria will compete in group C of the 2025 African Cup of Nations scheduled to start on the 21st of December in Morocco.
The Super Eagles have been placed alongside Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda and will be eyeing a much-improved performance as they hope to add a fourth continental crown.
The three-time champions reached the final of the last edition before losing 2-1 to Ivory Coast and will be eager to put behind that disappointment by winning this edition.
