‘I’ve been saying it for five years now’ - Ex-Super Eagles star questions NFF criteria for appointing a coach

Despite a growing wave of public support for Chelle, Okpala remains steadfast in his belief that a Nigerian coach is the ideal choice to lead the Super Eagles.

A year into his role, Chelle has maintained an unbeaten record in competitive matches during regulation time. 

However, his tenure has not been without disappointment, as Nigeria failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup under his guidance, but secured a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Okpala, a long-standing proponent of appointing indigenous coaches, expressed his disapproval of Chelle's appointment from the outset in January 2025. 

While acknowledging Chelle's largely positive results, the former international argues that this success should not distract from what he considers a flawed policy.

Okpala has voiced strong opposition to this viewpoint, questioning the criteria used to evaluate local coaching talent.

In an interview with Brila.net, Okpala challenged what he sees as inconsistent and unfair arguments frequently used to sideline Nigerian coaches.

"All I can say is that it’s Nigerian coaches that will solve the Super Eagles' problem. I’ve been saying it for maybe five years now," Okpala stated.

"I read again where someone said that if you want to coach the national team, you must have taken a club side to the continent and won the CAF Champions League. 

“I started thinking—if that is the yardstick for coaching the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle is from Mali, so how many teams did he coach in Mali that won the CAF Champions League?"

Okpala's remarks highlight the ongoing debate surrounding Chelle's AFCON 2025 bronze medal, a result that has split opinions among supporters and ex-players.