‘He has won me over’ — Super Eagles legend backs Eric Chelle despite World Cup disappointment

Despite Nigeria’s heartbreaking exit from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, one of the nation’s most respected football figures, Sunday Oliseh, has thrown his full support behind current head coach Eric Chelle.

The former Super Eagles captain admits he was once sceptical of the appointment, but now believes the Malian tactician has proven his worth.

Speaking on his podcast, Sunday Oliseh delivered a candid assessment of Chelle’s tenure so far. He confessed, “I am one of those, in reality, was totally unhappy when he was appointed, but I must be honest with you that so far, he has won me over.

“I feel like the man has really given it a lot, he’s done a lot, and he’s picked up some points, better than any of the two people that preceded him.”

His endorsement comes after Nigeria’s turbulent start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where the Super Eagles failed to win any of their opening four matches.

That early stumble raised widespread concern, but Chelle gradually stabilised the team. Under his leadership, Nigeria went on a seven-match unbeaten run, to reach the final playoff stage.

Although the campaign ended in heartbreak with a 4–3 penalty shootout loss to DR Congo after a 1–1 draw in extra time, Oliseh noted that Chelle has revived the team’s competitiveness and structure.

Nigeria’s failure to reach the World Cup for a second straight cycle has inevitably intensified scrutiny on Chelle, who succeeded Augustine Eguavoen amid lingering instability in the national setup.

The playoff defeat overshadowed key achievements during his tenure, including winning the Unity Cup with victories over Ghana and Jamaica, and maintaining an unbeaten record in regular time as Super Eagles coach.

Nevertheless, expectations remain high. With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon, Chelle’s future may depend heavily on Nigeria’s performance in Group C, where they will face Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.

For many, AFCON could define whether he continues steering the national team or becomes another casualty in Nigeria’s frequent managerial turnover.