In a surprising twist, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Malian tactician Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. This marks a historic first for Nigeria, as Chelle becomes the first non-Nigerian African to manage the country’s national team.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, has sparked debate across the footballing landscape. It comes after months of speculation that the NFF was pursuing a high-profile European manager, following near-deals with candidates like former Stuttgart boss Bruno Labbadia. Instead, the federation opted for Chelle, a relatively lesser-known coach with a UEFA Pro Licence and a resume that includes managing lower-league French clubs and leading Mali to the quarterfinals of the 2024 AFCON.

Nigerian football icon Segun Odegbami has likened this appointment to the NFF’s decision in 1990 to hire Clemens Westerhof, a Dutchman who would later become the Super Eagles’ most successful coach. Westerhof, though now a legend, was an underwhelming pick at the time, having managed only a handful of Dutch clubs and served as an assistant at Feyenoord.

In his column for The Vanguard, Odegbami remarked, “Chelle’s qualifications are statistically a notch higher than Westerhof’s in 1990. Is the NFF trying to emulate the Westerhof model? Could that be the thinking behind this decision?”

Westerhof’s tenure famously transformed Nigerian football, culminating in AFCON glory in 1994 and the country’s first FIFA World Cup appearance that same year. Odegbami believes Chelle’s appointment, though surprising, could yield similar long-term success.

Chelle’s immediate challenge will be guiding Nigeria to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with decisive qualifying fixtures scheduled for March. His official unveiling, alongside his assistants, is set for Monday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The football world watches eagerly to see if the NFF’s gamble on Chelle will pay off, or if it will become another chapter in the complex story of Nigerian football.