New Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle is coach who believes in attacking football, always willing his team to go for goals without inhibitions.
This was one of the major considerations that got the 47-year-old Chelle the top post.
The Super Eagles will have to play without fear in their remaining six 2026 World Cup qualifiers especially away from home.
It is on record that even though Nigeria under interim coach Augustine Eguavoen won their qualifying group to the 2025 AFCON, they did not win an away game on the pitch.
They were only handed a 3-0 win over home team Libya by CAF due to the foul play by the North Africans.
The former Mali handler favours the 4-3-1-2 formation, which has a flat back-four as well as two strikers to accommodate the overflowing attacking talents that the Super Eagles have always boasted of.
His attacking style stresses on high pressing, quick transitions and creative runs in behind.
This will unlock the full potentials that the Super Eagles have promised for many years now.
It would be recalled that in March 2023, he led Les Aiglons of Mali to beat the Super Eagles 2-0 in a friendly in Morocco.
Mali under Chelle’s watch were unlucky to lose 2-1 to hosts Cote d’Ivoire after extra time in the quarterfinal of the 2023 AFCON.
Mali won Group E after they beat South Africa 2-0 before drawing their matches against Tunisia and Namibia.
In the Round of 16, they saw off West African neighbours Burkina Faso 2-1.
Eric Chelle’s time with the Eagles of Bamako will afford a solid foundation for optimism.
During his time as head coach, he managed an impressive record, averaging 2.10 points per game over 21 matches.
Under his tutelage, Mali recorded 13 wins, five draws, and only three losses, a statistic that highlights his ability to get consistent results from his teams.
At the 2023 AFCON, ,Mali’s brand of football drew praise for its fluidity and attacking intent.
