BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
Former President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), Dr. Mitchell Obi has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to sack Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle after the Franco-Malian guided the Super Eagles to a miserable 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in Uyo, which has now put the team’s chances of qualifying to the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy.
Obi who reacted on NSM/NSC Reloaded platform said the Super Eagles tactician has failed to meet up with the terms of his contract and as such be shown the way out to give room for his assistants to take over.
“The day after the Uyo debacle and I am at loss listening to coach Eric Sekou Chelle talking about a playoff ticket now for the Super Eagles” Obi started. “That was never the deal and if he is smart he should not stay a day longer than necessary”.
“The gamble, which was what it is, was to deliver the two matches in March and restore our hope diet to feed on till September. He did his best and conformed well to all the football and sports leaders who chorused that he is a diligent coach”. “But the Nigerian football space will concur he did not deliver and this country can’t afford to keep a coach till September for no value laden reason when we have Nigerians who can do the same job and even better” Obi further stressed.
He added that Eric Chelle who guided Mali to a quarterfinal in the just concluded AFCON where his side conceded late goal from Cote D’Ivoire to rue their chances of qualifying to the semifinals replicated same with Super Eagles against the Zimbabwe Warriors as a late goal dimmed Nigeria’s hope of grabbing the maximum points in the game.
While he stated that the poor performance of Chelle gave Nigeria’s severe heart ache and headache, he reminded the NFF that if they could judge a Nigerian coach after just two matches in this same qualifier by compelling him to resign, same should be applied to Chelle who has failed to put Nigeria on the appropriate path towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup through his miserable game management which has shown the limit of his experience and expertise.
Obi further reminded that Chelle got all the support needed from Nigerians, but he disappointed us and it is time for us to try our indigenous coaches and let the Franco-Malian find his way.
“Everyone called for 100 percent support for Chelle and he can’t deny our support for him and his team. Uyo last night was full to its rafters and the passionate crowd left home crestfallen”. “We have seen the gamble on Eric Chelle and it has not paid off. It is time to lay our treasures at home, swim and sink with our own to the extent where we measure our growth on all levels of our game”.
“Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu should take care of the CHAN team going forward and anchored on their performance we can assess who leads us in the next set of World Cup matches in September and October from whence we fashion out a team for the Winter AFCON in Morocco by December”.
“The life as Eagles coach of this Chelle has shelled out. What is food for the geese is also food for the goose” Obi concluded.
Obi’s reaction has gotten support with some who shared their thoughts aligning with him that the Malian should be shown the way out. Meanwhile, top officials of the NFF who were privileged to get his view have not commented on it as at press time.
