‘Congratulations’ - Nigerians shower Eric Chelle with praise on his Super Eagles anniversary

Social media has exploded with praise as Eric Chelle marked one year as Super Eagles head coach, a dramatic turnaround from the scepticism that shadowed his January 7, 2025, appointment by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Malian tactician stepped in after a rocky stretch: Finidi George's four-game stint in July 2024 delivered just one win, while interim boss Austin Eguavoen clinched AFCON 2025 qualification but couldn't revive World Cup dreams. 

Ending seven months without a permanent manager, Chelle has since transformed doubters into die-hard supporters through gritty results and smart squad handling, positioning Nigeria as AFCON frontrunners.

The Super Eagles' official X account ignited the festivities, posting: “One year of Monsieur Eric. Eric Chelle’s role as #SuperEagles head coach officially began on this day last year.” 

The comments section lit up like a packed Lagos stadium, with fans hailing his impact amid Nigeria's strong AFCON 2025 performance.

“Fingers crossed for an AFCON win this year, but honestly, his track record speaks for itself, so he deserves a chance either way, I suggest we keep him for another three years at least,” one supporter declared, echoing the growing faith in Chelle's steady hand.

Others dissected his record with tactical flair: “Chelle has done a good job; perhaps if he was appointed earlier, we would have made the World Cup,” while another marveled, “This is a great success spell, he's had a great run so far. It's hard to imagine it's one year already. Wow!”

Not everyone held back criticism, with one fan cautioning, “It's too early to start giving credit; let's wait the end,” and others debating those infamous five draws: “Those 5 draws were more of a loss, that’s why Nigeria is not in the World Cup today, mostly because of Osimhen’s absence, yet some people think Osimhen is just another squad player.” 

Even the salary talk fired up the crowd: “$50,000 × 12 = $600,000, $600,000 in naira is about ₦860 million; why wouldn’t he be happy? Minus match bonuses though oo.”

From controversy to cheers, Chelle's anniversary tributes indicate a fanbase fully bought in, now eyeing AFCON 2025 glory under the Malian maestro.