Chelle draws interest from Angola, Gabon after AFCON showing with Nigeria
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is attracting strong interest from other African national teams following his successful stint with Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Chelle, appointed in January 2025, guided Nigeria to a third-place finish, defeating Egypt in the playoff to claim the country’s ninth AFCON bronze medal.
His side impressed with attacking flair, scoring 14 goals across seven matches, while remaining solid defensively, keeping clean sheets in all knockout-stage games.
Their only setbacks came on penalties against Morocco in the semifinals and DR Congo in the World Cup playoffs.
Interest grows across the continent
During the tournament, Chelle reportedly turned down an approach from Tunisia following their round of 16 exit.
Since then, Angola and Gabon have emerged as frontrunners in the race to secure his services.
Gabon recently parted ways with head coach Thierry Mouyouma after an early AFCON exit, while Angola is actively pursuing the Malian tactician.
“After a successful AFCON with the Super Eagles, Éric Chelle is now wanted by other African nations, mainly Angola and Gabon,” SportyTV reported on Tuesday.
“Chelle is set to meet with the Nigerian Football Federation in the coming days to discuss his future, while interest from other national teams continues to intensify.”
Strong record and financial considerations
Chelle has yet to lose a competitive match in regular time since taking charge, including winning the Unity Cup in London in May 2025.
Prior to AFCON, he was owed three months’ salary and outstanding bonuses by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), a factor that may make him more open to offers with improved financial terms.
Supporters are calling for continuity, urging the NFF to extend his contract through the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, citing the visible improvement in the team’s performances.
However, the NFF president Ibrahim Gusau has played down any immediate talks of contract extension, insisting Chelle is only halfway into his current contract.
Chelle’s current deal runs until January 2027, and a decision on his future is expected soon as both the coach and federation weigh the options amid growing external interest.
