It’s a hot, humid Sunday in Abuja and Eric Sekou Chelle is relaxed in a chocolate-coloured t-shirt over sports shorts and wearing a pair of red canvas shoes.
Eric Chelle cuts a sharply contrasting picture from the post-match press conference for a 2026 World Cup qualifier during which Zimbabwe delivered a late sucker punch for “my guys” Super Eagles to be pegged back in front of a jammed Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
He was sweating and struggling to put together the few English words he could to make sense to the horde of reporters asking why a lapse in concentration back in defence let in the Warriors to deal a late blow and salvage a 1-1 draw.
He was as deeply pained as a die-hard Super Eagles fan would because within minutes Nigeria tumbled from second place on nine points to fourth position with seven points and now six points behind leaders South Africa.
“What do you think of the two matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe,” he pointedly asked me as he took his seat by the hotel swimming pool side.
“The team did what was needed in Rwanda, they got the goals and managed the second half well,” I replied.
“Against Zimbabwe, all the talk is about that late equaliser and why you brought in a striker instead of a defender to manage the closing moments of this clash.”
“I believe I have brought more intensity and aggression to the team,” says the coach, who refers to the players as “my guys”.
“We had 11 shots at goal, but what most people remember was the goal we let in.
“I told the boys they have done well and must remain confident that we can still qualify for the World Cup.”
The hotel security guard Emmauel walks down and pumps fists with the Super Eagles coach, who is very much at home here.
He tells me his favourite Nigerian food is masa either with the spicy pepper or with the soup, it’s a Northern Nigerian delicacy.
He also loves his Nigerian Jollof rice.
His house in Abuja has been rented, will soon be furnished for him to soon move in.
Did he inherit a bunch of indisciplined players, who like to break camp rules and curfew?
“No. May be because this was the first camp, but I met players who trained hard, are in their rooms when they should be and report for team meetings in good time,” he answers.
“Everything has gone very well contrary to what I was told before the camp opened.”
He also says he has gone about his work without any interference.
He will take a short break to reunite with his family in France and return to Nigeria to be part of the 2025 CHAN preparations.
He tells me he wishes to freshen the squad by bringing in some players who are eligible to play for Nigeria and could man some key positions in the team.
He shows me a long list of over 30 such players, from Lesley Ugochukwu to George Ilenikhena and Carney Chukwuemeka.
“There are lots of players who can still play for Nigeria. I will work with the NFF to make this possible,” he reveals.
He is equally looking forward with a lot of excitement to the June international break, when he will have the Super Eagles for probably the longest period this year.
The team will tackle Russia for the first time ever in a friendly in Moscow at the end of May before they feature in an invitational tournament in England that also has arch-rivals Ghana and Jamaica.
It will be a chance to take a closer look at some players who were not part of his first two matches in charge of the team.
“I am here to work,” he maintains.
“It’s an obligation we win in South Africa, but the most important match for us right now is Rwanda in Uyo.”
Results permitting, this 47-year-old former defence hard man is very much at home in Nigeria and he is here for the long haul.
