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...
Clasico ‘More Important’ For Madrid Than Barca —...
Rashford Reserves Man Utd Tickets for NHS ‘Superstars’...
Falcons battle Ethiopia in crucial Olympic qualifier
Danjuma counts on experience against Morocco
Ibrahimovic Returns To Milan With Contract Extension Close...
Adesanya gets UFC rival’s backing
Age controversy rocks Junior D’Tigers amid losses
Gift eyes more goals at WAFCON
Babajide relishes POTM honour
I want to leave records that will be hard to break – Ogazi
USA to host Joshua vs Fury match
Nigerian athletes blame jet lag for World U-20 performance
_5.jpg)
Why Gusau And The Present NFF Board Must Go!
Oshodi tips Africa’s young t’tennis stars for stardom
Why police ordered Abuja stadium closure
WAFU B U-20: Flying Eagles edge Ivory Coast 4-3 to reach final
Why I turned down Galatasaray’s number 9 shirt — Osimhen
Africa’s first Wheelchair Fencing Academy opens in Lagos
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (64,008 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,360 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,258 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,858 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,740 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,612 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,506 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,015 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,229 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,702 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,185 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,564 views)