Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has expressed his support for newly appointed Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle. Despite the controversy surrounding Chelle’s appointment, Dikko believes the Malian is the right man for the job, citing his deep knowledge of African football as a vital asset.
Dikko emphasized the importance of Chelle’s experience in African football, particularly given the Super Eagles’ upcoming World Cup qualifiers against fellow African countries. He noted that Chelle’s familiarity with the African game will be crucial in the team’s quest for success.
Chelle’s appointment has been met with widespread criticism from Nigerian football fans and pundits. However, Dikko urged fans to judge Chelle based on his work with national teams, rather than his club experience. He pointed out that coaching a national team is different from coaching a club side.
Chelle, who left Algerian club MC Oran to take up his new role, has previously coached the Eagles of Mali at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. His experience and knowledge of African football will be put to the test as he leads the Super Eagles in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
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