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...
French Champions Lille Held By Lowly Brest
Semenya Loses Appeal over Testosterone Rules
_150x150.jpg)
Torino Strike The Most Important Of My Career...
Hamilton Condemns ‘Crazy’ Racism in Sport
Adepoju charges Rohr to use friendlies to fix...
Bale Expects Real Return After Spurs Loan
Chukwuemka prefers Austria to Nigeria
Enekwechi throws season best, Okezie finishes second in Serbia
Ogazi wins SEC Runner of the Week
Lookman has matched Osimhen’s impact – Peseiro
West Ham plot Chukwueze summer hijack
Tennis: Stakeholders dream big after Davis Cup promotion
Chelle on Marseille shortlist to replace De Zerbi
Edo Sports Commission boss applauds Niger Delta Games facilities
I could have fought Joshua for £100m — Ferdinand
CAF begins stadium inspection ahead of AFCON 2027
Outrage as World Cup 2026 tickets hit $143,000 on FIFA’s platform
Falcon stars gear up for WAFCON title defence
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,552 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,857 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,765 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,410 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,324 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,241 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,110 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,659 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,830 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,359 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,752 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,216 views)