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...
Real Madrid’s Marcelo To Miss PSG Champions League...
Ex-Eagles’ star, David Adiele, turns ‘gateman’
Rohr Provides Uzoho Injury Update
Ndidi Bigger Than Leicester City — Amokachi
Ndidi enjoying his partnership with Drinkwater at Leicester...
Everton release Stephen Pienaar
Brume, Okezie join global stars for Kip Keino Classic
NPFL confirms May 24 season end date
NCF proposes elite cricket league
Trump envoy wants Italy to replace Iran at World Cup — Report
Gala intensify Osimhen’s special recovery plan
Core Afrique stages first NBF-sanctioned pro event
Professional, amateur golfers tee off at landmark Edo event
Ndidi resumes training after injury layoff
NPFL halts season for Federation Cup
National school volleyball championships begin in Lagos
AFN opens World Relays camp in Lagos
NOC Mourns Galadima, Describes Late Administrator As ‘Principled Visionary’
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,718 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,046 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,969 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,564 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,495 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,395 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,248 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,792 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,983 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,490 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,902 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,367 views)