Super Eagles coach: Is Mali’s Eric Chelle better than Nigeria’s best of Oliseh, Siasia, and Amuneke?

With Nigeria set to begin their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in Morocco, the Super Eagles are still without a head coach, Soccernet.ng reports. 

The coaching situation has been tumultuous over the past eight months. José Peseiro led Nigeria to the final of the 2023 AFCON but parted ways with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) shortly after.

His assistant, Finidi George, was initially named caretaker manager and later confirmed as head coach.

However, Finidi resigned just a month into his tenure following disappointing results against South Africa and Benin, leaving Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

The NFF has since turned its focus to hiring a foreign coach, with Eric Chelle, Tom Saintfiet, and Hervé Renard reportedly on the shortlist.

Renard, a two-time AFCON winner with Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire, is the favourite among many fans.

Saintfiet, who has a diverse coaching resume across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, also boasts impressive credentials, having been named among Africa’s top five coaches in 2022 and 2023.

However, the financial demands of Renard and Saintfiet could prove prohibitive. Peseiro earned €50,000 per month, a salary the NFF struggled to pay on time.

Renard and Saintfiet are reportedly seeking double that amount, which might be beyond the NFF’s budget.

Eric Chelle, the former Mali international and coach, is believed to be more affordable, but questions remain about whether he is the best fit for Nigeria’s national team compared to the country’s top indigenous coaches.

Chelle is a capable coach who impressed during his time with Mali, leading the team to 14 victories, five draws, and just three defeats in 22 matches.

His tenure included a quarterfinal appearance in the last AFCON, where Mali narrowly lost to hosts and eventual champions Côte d’Ivoire. Chelle also masterminded a 2-0 win over Nigeria in March.

However, when compared to Nigeria’s best indigenous coaches — Emmanuel Amuneke, Sunday Oliseh, and Samson Siasia — Chelle’s achievements seem less remarkable.

Amuneke, a World Cup-winning coach with Nigeria’s U-17 team, has strong connections with current Super Eagles stars like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.

He also has experience coaching in Tanzania, Nigeria, and Sudan and was recently appointed head coach of NPFL side Heartland FC.

Sunday Oliseh, who briefly coached the Super Eagles in 2015, is another strong contender.

The former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund midfielder has drawn comparisons to Pep Guardiola for his coaching methods and has expressed interest in returning to the national team.

Samson Siasia, who led Nigeria to a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and a bronze in 2016, also has a strong case despite his uneventful stint as Super Eagles coach.

With his FIFA-imposed ban set to be lifted soon, Siasia might be ready to return to coaching.

While Renard and Saintfiet remain the top choices, financial constraints might force the NFF to look elsewhere. In that case, turning to one of Nigeria’s finest homegrown coaches could prove a better option than hiring Chelle.