Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has thrown his weight behind Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ikpeba insists the Franco-Malian tactician remains the right man to lead the team into the continental showpiece in Morocco despite Nigeria’s precarious World Cup qualifying campaign.
Speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football via Complete Sports, Ikpeba praised Chelle’s impact since effectively taking charge in March.
Chelle has guided the Super Eagles on an unbeaten record of four wins and three draws in seven matches.
“Chelle is doing a good job and I believe we wouldn’t be in this situation if he had started the qualifiers with the Super Eagles,” Ikpeba said.
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Nigeria currently sit third in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, trailing South Africa and Benin with only two matches left to play.
The poor start under former coaches José Peseiro and Finidi George, three draws and one defeat in the opening four games, has left the Super Eagles’ hopes of reaching the tournament hanging by a thread.
Yet, while the World Cup dream looks distant, Chelle’s men are already assured of a place at December’s AFCON. That qualification was secured under interim boss Augustine Eguavoen late last year, before Chelle’s appointment.
At the last edition in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria reached the final under Peseiro but fell short against the hosts. Chelle was also present at the tournament, but with Mali, who exited in the quarterfinals despite playing expansive football.
There have been growing calls for Chelle’s dismissal should Nigeria fail to reach the World Cup, but Ikpeba believes such a move would be premature.
“He will create competition for places in the squad and make use of the talented players we have abroad,” Ikpeba argued.
“He hasn’t dismissed any player, but he is creating an environment for healthy competition by giving opportunities to different players to fight for a place.”
Ikpeba, part of Nigeria’s famous Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning side, stressed that off-field issues have been the team’s biggest stumbling block.
“The biggest problem of the Super Eagles is the distraction in camp before and after matches. I expect the NFF to tackle that problem. Chelle can still lead Nigeria to the AFCON, irrespective of the outcome of our World Cup bid,” he added.
Nigeria have won the AFCON three times, in 1980, 1994 and 2013, and Ikpeba is confident Chelle can restore belief as the Super Eagles prepare for another shot at continental glory.
