By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 9, 2025
Super Eagles forward Moses Simon has welcomed new head coach Eric Chelle with a message in French following the Mali tactician’s appointment by the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday, The PUNCH reports.
The Nantes winger took to his X account to post “Bienvenue au Nigeria” (Welcome to Nigeria), becoming the first national team player to publicly acknowledge Chelle’s appointment.
The former Mali coach was named as Augustine Eguavoen’s replacement, with the NFF confirming his tenure would begin immediately as the Eagles aim to revive their faltering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Chelle takes over from Eguavoen, who had served as interim head coach since September 2024 following Finidi George’s resignation and the collapse of Bruno Labbadia’s proposed appointment.
Simon, who has earned over 70 caps for Nigeria since making his debut in 2015 and featured in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, will hope the new manager can turn around the team’s fortunes in the World Cup qualifiers.
The three-time African champions currently sit fifth in their qualifying group without a win after four matches, leaving them with a mountain to climb to reach the 2026 World Cup which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The qualifiers resume in March 2025 with crucial matches against Rwanda – who claimed a shock 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Uyo in November – and Zimbabwe.
Having missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after losing to Ghana in the playoffs, failure to qualify for a second consecutive mundial would be considered catastrophic for Nigerian football.
While Eguavoen successfully guided the Eagles through their 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign, topping a group containing Libya, Rwanda and Benin Republic, the World Cup qualifying struggles ultimately led to the NFF seeking a change in leadership.
Source Punch Ng
Posted January 9, 2025
You may also like...
Ndidi Resumes Full Training For Leicester City Ahead...
Ramos suffers Calf Injury Ahead Of Liverpool Tie...
Senegal stun South Africa in 2017 U20 AFCON...
Guardiola: I Won’t Go Back to Barcelona or...
Warri Wolves players dedicate Super 4 victory over...
Amusan beats tanker driver to EKOFM award
President’s death forces aquatic federation calendar shake-up
Diamond League announces Amusan for Prefontaine Classic
Chelle receives Agu, Nwaiwu injury boost
Lagos schools gear up for TASG athletics showcase
D’Tigress open W’Cup qualifying campaign with Colombia clash
Onigbide's contributions helped shape Nigeria’s football, NSC mourns ex-Super Eagles coach
Joshua career-earnings per punch recorded at £172k
Onuachu breaks 14-year Trabzonspor goal record
Musa dedicates derby win to Pillars fan
Rivers United’s scoring run thrills Finidi
How Arsenal can win Premier League
NWFL player Ihotu regains freedom after N1.5m ransom
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,605 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,932 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,837 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,464 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,383 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,290 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,165 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,709 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,887 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,402 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,795 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,270 views)