As Nigeria head into one of the most important international weeks in years, Super Eagles head coach Éric Sékou Chelle has delivered a powerful message of belief, identity and ambition in an exclusive interview with CAF. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup Inter-Continental Playoffs just days away, Chelle has outlined his pride in leading the Super Eagles, his approach to managing a star-studded squad, and what it will take to push Nigeria back onto football’s biggest stage.
Nigeria face Gabon on 13 November in Rabat, with the winner advancing to the final on 16 November for the right to compete in March’s global play-off. Only one team will survive the mini-tournament of Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon and DR Congo. For Chelle, the mission is clear.
“It’s something huge,” he told CAFOnline.com. “Nigeria is a massive team – arguably the best in Africa in sporting terms and aura, in many respects. For me, it’s a great source of pride. As I’ve often said, it feels like a World Cup for me.”
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Chelle’s connection to the Super Eagles runs deep. He spoke of his admiration for the famous 1998 Nigeria team, adding: “I even bought Nigeria shirts. For me, it’s a deep pride – beyond words.”
Since taking over in March 2025, Chelle has transformed the team’s form: six games, four wins, two draws, and a surge from near-elimination to within two victories of a World Cup lifeline. It is a turnaround built on clarity, unity and an understanding of the pressure that comes with the job.
“It’s a very passionate country that loves football and knows the game well,” Chelle said. “There are 230 million Nigerians – which means 230 million coaches, journalists and decision-makers!”
To cope with the intensity, Chelle says he created his own “bubble”, avoiding distractions, stepping away from social media and focusing solely on team building. “We’re moving step by step. We haven’t achieved anything yet; we’ve climbed one step and are working on the next.”
World Cup Playoffs: Nigeria’s Immediate Priority
Although AFCON 2025 is also on the horizon, Chelle is clear that this week’s World Cup playoff takes absolute precedence.
“Before AFCON, there’s a crucial target: the World Cup play-offs,” he said. “The goal is to win those matches. If we win the first, we’ll aim for the second, then turn to AFCON.”
And the pressure is unmistakable.
“When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything,” he told CAF. But while acknowledging the expectation, Chelle insists the approach must remain grounded: “We proceed with humility, with a smile and a will to work.”
With Gabon in the semifinal, the Super Eagles must overcome a side blessed with pace, confidence and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — but Chelle believes Nigeria’s combination of talent and mentality gives them the edge.
“If we stay serious, motivated and united, nothing is impossible.”
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Managing Nigeria’s Elite Attack
Nigeria’s attack is arguably Africa’s most talented, with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman headlining a group bursting with match-winners. Chelle explained the process behind managing such depth.
“There are at least 25 players who could play across the frontline – more than a full team,” he said.
He revealed Nigeria track around 80 players every week, assessing club minutes, form and tactical suitability. He highlighted Lookman as an example of balancing tactical fit with game-changing ability.
“Ademola Lookman hadn’t played much for Atalanta early in the season, but I couldn’t name a squad without the African Player of the Year. He can change a game in 15 minutes.”
For Chelle, selection is always difficult, but necessary to maintain standards.
Nigeria’s Identity Under Chelle
One of Chelle’s most revealing points was his emphasis on values over tactics. With limited time during international windows, the coach believes mindset and unity will define Nigeria’s success.
“In national-team football, mentality is everything,” he explained.
He said the Super Eagles have begun adopting a shared identity rooted in cohesion, respect and collective purpose, a foundation he believes could carry them all the way through Morocco and beyond.
And despite being Malian by birth, Chelle says the emotional connection with Nigeria is total.
“I arrived as someone who is 50% Malian, 50% French. But today I am in Nigeria; I consider myself Nigerian and I’m ready to give everything for this team and country.”
The Road Ahead
Nigeria’s campaign has been turbulent, but under Chelle the Super Eagles feel alive again. The 4-0 demolition of Benin in their last qualifier showed their ceiling — and with Osimhen in full flight, Lookman regaining sharpness and the squad united behind a new identity, the dream of the 2026 World Cup is suddenly real again.
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