The Super Eagles coach is Éric Sékou Chelle, the Franco-Malian former Mali boss whom the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appointed on 7 January 2025. Chelle led Nigeria to bronze at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, agreed new terms plus the Olympic Eagles job in June 2026, and still runs the team in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers as of 19 October 2026. This guide covers his profile, reported salary and every coach since 2000.
TL;DR: Super Eagles Coach Quick Answers
- Current Super Eagles coach: Éric Chelle, head coach since 7 January 2025.
- Coach before Eric Chelle: Augustine Eguavoen, who led the team on an interim basis.
- Salary: reports put his first deal at $50,000 a month and a new, still-unsigned deal at $75,000.
- Best result: AFCON 2025 bronze, after a 4-2 shootout win over Egypt on 17 January 2026.
- Biggest miss: a shootout defeat to DR Congo ended Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup bid.
- Next games: Tanzania in Uyo on 13 November, then away on 17 November; our weekly predictions will cover both.
Super Eagles Coach (as of October 2026)
The current head coach of the Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles, is Éric Sékou Chelle (commonly called Eric Chelle).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Éric Sékou Chelle |
| Nationality | Franco-Malian (French father, Malian mother); born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
| Role | Head coach, Nigeria senior men’s team (Super Eagles) |
| Appointed | 7 January 2025, by the NFF Executive Committee |
| Predecessor | Augustine Eguavoen (interim, 2024–2025) |
| Contract | New terms agreed in June 2026; formal signing still pending in October 2026 |
| Additional role | Oversees the Olympic Eagles (Nigeria U-23), targeting Los Angeles 2028 |
| Key achievement | Bronze medal at AFCON 2025 in Morocco |
| Previous jobs | Mali national team (2022–2024), MC Oran in Algeria (2024–2025) |
Éric Chelle is the current head coach of the Nigeria national football team (Super Eagles) as of 19 October 2026.
Chelle, a former Mali national team coach and five-cap Mali international, became coach of the Super Eagles after the NFF Executive Committee endorsed him on 7 January 2025, the federation confirmed. He led the Super Eagles to bronze at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, agreed improved terms with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the NFF in June 2026, and now also oversees the Olympic Eagles. He remains in charge for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The official Super Eagles account introduced him on the night of the appointment:
Who Is Eric Chelle? A Short Super Eagles Coach Biography
Any Nigeria coach profile of Chelle starts outside Nigeria. He grew up between West Africa and France. His French father and Malian mother raised him in Abidjan before the family moved to Martigues in southern France. He chose Mali at international level.
What Was Eric Chelle’s Playing Career?
The centre-back spent his whole club career in France, playing for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais between 1998 and 2014 and winning Ligue 2 with Valenciennes (2005–06) and Lens (2008–09).
Where Did He Coach Before Nigeria?
- GS Consolat (2014–2017): assistant, then head coach.
- FC Martigues (2017–2021): head coach.
- US Boulogne (2021): Boulogne dismissed him in December 2021 after three points from ten games.
- Mali (2022–2024): reached the AFCON 2023 quarter-finals, losing 2-1 after extra time to eventual champions Ivory Coast. Mali dismissed him in June 2024.
- MC Oran (2024–2025): a short Algerian Ligue 1 spell.
How Has Chelle Performed as Super Eagles Head Coach?
The NFF handed Chelle one task: rescue a stalled 2026 World Cup campaign that had produced three draws and a defeat from four qualifiers.
Why Did Nigeria Miss the 2026 World Cup?
Chelle’s side reached the CAF play-offs, but DR Congo won the final 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Rabat on 16 November 2025, BBC Sport reported. The NFF’s protest over DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi’s eligibility failed at FIFA in March 2026, and the federation appealed.
What Did Nigeria Achieve at AFCON 2025?
Nigeria won all three group games against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda, beat Mozambique in the last 16 and knocked out Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-finals, with Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams on target. Hosts Morocco ended the run on penalties in the semi-final. Nigeria then held Egypt 0-0 and won the shootout 4-2 to take bronze in Casablanca, CAF confirmed.
How Is the 2027 AFCON Qualifying Campaign Going?
Nigeria opened Group L with a 2-1 comeback win over Madagascar in Uyo on 25 September 2026. Four days later, Guinea-Bissau won 3-0 in Bissau, and Chelle admitted the hosts “were more aggressive than us”. Only the group winner qualifies, and Nigeria sit second, three points behind. A 3-3 friendly draw with Russia followed on 6 October.
Seven Premier League players started in Bissau, so track club form on our Premier League fixtures page and check fitness on our football injury updates before the Tanzania double-header.
What Is the Super Eagles Coach Salary?
The NFF has never published Chelle’s pay, so these figures come from media reports.
- First contract (January 2025): $50,000 a month on a two-year deal, per Score Nigeria. Chelle also paid his assistants from that sum, The Nation reported.
- His request: Chelle asked for $130,000 a month after AFCON 2025, Punch reported.
- New terms (agreed June 2026): $75,000 a month from 1 June 2026 to August 2028, with the authorities now paying his assistants, per Score Nigeria. ESPN confirmed the extension and the added Olympic Eagles role.
- Status: unsigned. The Guardian Nigeria reported on 13 October 2026 that the delay frustrates Chelle.
Voice of Nigeria quoted a higher $100,000 a month for Chelle and his staff; no other outlet matches it. Compare club-level pay in our Victor Osimhen net worth breakdown.
Was the Super Eagles Coach Sacked, or Is There a New Coach?
No. Nigeria has not sacked Chelle, so the current coach remains the man the NFF hired in January 2025, with no new coach as of 19 October 2026. NSC chairman Shehu Dikko confirmed on 23 June 2026 that Chelle would stay in charge. Squad news lands on our injury page first.
The Bissau defeat raised the heat, though, and the federation itself is in flux: the entire NFF executive committee, led by Ibrahim Musa Gusau, resigned on 27 August 2026, which stalled the new contract.
The last head coach the NFF sacked was Gernot Rohr, on 12 December 2021. Chelle has faced the axe twice himself, at Boulogne in 2021 and with Mali in 2024.
Who Was the Super Eagles Coach Before Eric Chelle?
Augustine Eguavoen, the NFF technical director, coached the team on an interim basis and secured AFCON 2025 qualification. He stepped in after the NFF’s deal with German coach Bruno Labbadia collapsed over German tax rules in August 2024. Earlier, Finidi George resigned on 15 June 2024, and José Peseiro left after the AFCON 2023 final.
List of Nigeria Super Eagles Coaches Since 2000
Here are the permanent head coaches since 2000, plus Onigbinde’s 2002 World Cup spell, which we cross-checked against Wikipedia and The Guardian Nigeria. Counting all Super Eagles coaches till date, the official team account calls Chelle the 37th.
| Coach | Nationality | Years | Notable result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jo Bonfrère | Dutch | 1999–2001 | AFCON 2000 runners-up as co-hosts |
| Shuaibu Amodu | Nigerian | 2001–2002; 2008–2010 | Qualified for the 2002 and 2010 World Cups; AFCON 2010 bronze |
| Adegboye Onigbinde | Nigerian | 2002 | Led the team at the 2002 World Cup |
| Christian Chukwu | Nigerian | 2002–2005 | AFCON 2004 bronze |
| Augustine Eguavoen | Nigerian | 2005–2007; interim 2010, 2021–22, 2024–25 | AFCON 2006 bronze |
| Berti Vogts | German | 2007–2008 | AFCON 2008 quarter-finals |
| Lars Lagerbäck | Swedish | 2010 | 2010 World Cup group stage |
| Samson Siasia | Nigerian | 2010–2011 | Missed AFCON 2012 qualification |
| Stephen Keshi | Nigerian | 2011–2014; 2015 | AFCON 2013 champions; 2014 World Cup last 16 |
| Sunday Oliseh | Nigerian | 2015–2016 | Resigned in February 2016 |
| Gernot Rohr | German | 2016–2021 | 2018 World Cup; AFCON 2019 bronze |
| José Peseiro | Portuguese | 2022–2024 | AFCON 2023 runners-up |
| Finidi George | Nigerian | 2024 | Resigned after two World Cup qualifiers |
| Éric Chelle | Franco-Malian | 2025–present | AFCON 2025 bronze |
Which Former Super Eagles Coaches Made History Before 2000?
Two Dutchmen stand out. Clemens Westerhof (1989–1994) won AFCON 1994 and took Nigeria to their first World Cup, USA 1994, where the Super Eagles reached the last 16. Jo Bonfrère then guided the U-23 Dream Team to Olympic gold at Atlanta 1996. Keshi, Westerhof’s 1994 captain, later won AFCON as coach. For another national-team coaching story, see our Nigeria basketball team guide.
How Do Super Eagles Coaching Changes Affect Betting Odds?
Bookmakers price Nigeria on form, squad news and stability. A settled coach usually means steadier selection, while a stalled deal or a heavy defeat, like Bissau, can lengthen the price on Nigeria topping Group L.
Before you back the Super Eagles against Tanzania, read our football betting guide, check this week’s correct football prediction picks and our live betting tips, then compare bookmakers in our most reliable betting sites list and see current 8xbet promotions. Our 8xbet vs SportyBet and 8xbet vs BetKing reviews compare apps, and zero risk football prediction explains why no tip is certain. ChampSquads’ weekly predictions add a second opinion.
18+ only. Betting carries real financial risk. Set a budget, never chase losses and visit our responsible gambling page if betting stops being fun.
Sources (2026)
We checked every fact against the NFF (7 January 2025; 30 September 2026), BBC Sport (8 January and 16 November 2025), CAF (17 January 2026), Punch, The Nation and ESPN (23–24 June 2026), Premium Times (29 September 2026) and The Guardian Nigeria (13 October 2026). We used Wikipedia only as a lead. More guides sit on our blog.
Related reading: AFCON Women 2026 results · highest goal scorer at the World Cup · Champions League 2026/27 table · new betting sites in Nigeria · ChampSquads scores and fixtures
FAQ
Which religion is Eric Chelle?
Chelle is Muslim. He told French magazine Onze Mondial in 2025 that he shares his Malian mother’s faith, while his French father and two brothers are Catholic.
How much does Nigeria pay the Super Eagles?
Players earn match fees and bonuses, not salaries. From September 2025, a $1,000 appearance fee per game plus a $200 daily camp allowance replaced win bonuses in World Cup qualifiers, Score Nigeria reported. At AFCON 2025, each player stood to earn $30,000 for the group stage plus bonuses for each knockout win, according to Daily Post.
Who was the first footballer in Nigeria?
No record names a single first footballer, but the NFF honours the pioneers. Nigeria’s first national team, the “UK Tourists”, played nine barefoot friendlies in England in 1949. Winger Titus Davis Okere then became the first Nigerian to sign a professional contract, with Swindon Town in February 1953.
How old is the Eagles coach?
Éric Chelle is 48. Born in Abidjan on 11 November 1977, he turns 49 on 11 November 2026, two days before Nigeria host Tanzania in Uyo.
