It was on Tuesday 07 January 2025 that the NFF announced that Chelle was appointed as a coach, where the president of the association, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said that he will start coaching the CHAN games in February.
Éric Sékou-Chelle has become the third coach of the Nigerian National Team since José Peseiro left the job in March 2024.
Nigeria's national football team is on retreat at the Romeo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, led by coach Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars, Fidelis Ilechukwu of Rangers International and goalkeeping coach Olatunji Baruwa.
According to sources, Éric Sékou-Chelle will arrive in Nigeria on Sunday and will bring three players. Chelle has been called up to the Mali National Team five times, having coached teams including GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne and MC Oran.
This coach coached the Mali national team from 2022 to June 2024, and even reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 African Cup, where they lost to Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 in 30 minutes of extra time.
Éric Sékou-Chelle's first game for the Nigerian national team, will be hosted by Rwanda in March in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
