Super Eagles: Ex-England striker once arrested in Abuja wants Eric Chelle’s job

Former England international John Fashanu has declared his interest in replacing Eric Chelle as head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Eagles are set to participate in the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Morocco later this year.

Meanwhile, Eric Chelle — who recently took over from former Ajax star Finidi George — is not under pressure, having overseen just two matches without suffering a defeat.

What John Fashanu Said

Speaking to journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the ex-Wimbledon striker said he believes he has what it takes to succeed with Nigeria’s national team.

“I want to be the manager of the Super Eagles,” Fashanu stated. “That is one of the hardest jobs in this country, but I am saying I can do it. I can do it with the right people—people who understand the game of football. It’s not about how much can you give us, Fash? It’s about getting players who can play in different countries and getting players with the right mentality and character. Players who want to play for the country.”

Watch the interview here:

Ex England forward John Fashanu says he wants to be the next manager of the Super Eagles.

“I want to be the next manager of the Super Eagles. It's one of the most difficult jobs, but I can do it”. pic.twitter.com/T5xhHSess8

— Bayo Adegboyega (@Bayoradegboyega) May 1, 2025

Fashanu’s comment comes at a time when the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently appointed former Malian gaffer, Chelle, to oversee the affairs of the Super Eagles and with no growing scrutiny of his performance so far.

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Fashanu Arrested in Nigeria

The former Aston Villa striker is no stranger to controversy. He was previously bailed following his arrest in Abuja over a land dispute.

He was accused of criminal conspiracy, threat to life, intimidation, trespass, and obtaining by false pretense.

According to earlier reports by the Daily Mail, the issue arose after Fashanu received over £500,000 from foreign investors for a 22-acre site.

However, he was detained alongside his lawyer after visiting the site and agreeing to meet with the police to resolve the situation.

Who is the Ex-England striker?

Born in England to a Nigerian father and a British Guiana mother, Fashanu chose to represent England internationally, earning only two caps due to the intense competition for places in the Three Lions squad at the time.

Eric Chelle, meanwhile, has overseen two matches as the Super Eagles boss during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers—guiding Nigeria to a win over Rwanda and a draw against Zimbabwe.