Super Eagles: Ndidi urges NFF to retain Eric Chelle

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to retain head coach Eric Chelle beyond the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Chelle, who was appointed on January 7, initially faced heavy criticism after failing to revive Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and losing the CAF Playoffs final to DR Congo.

AFCON turnaround shifts the narrative

Despite early setbacks and mounting calls for his dismissal, the NFF kept faith with the Franco-Malian tactician and allowed him lead the team to AFCON 2025. That decision has largely paid off.

Under Chelle, the Super Eagles delivered some of their most cohesive and dominant performances in recent years, displaying improved structure, discipline and tactical clarity throughout the tournament.

Nigeria’s campaign ended at the semifinal stage after a narrow defeat to hosts Morocco on Friday, a result that still reflected a competitive showing against the Atlas Lions. The loss pushed the Super Eagles into a third-place playoff against Egypt.

Ndidi backs continuity

Speaking ahead of the playoff, Ndidi publicly backed Chelle and emphasized the importance of stability.

“For continuity, I feel like they should keep the coach because he is a wonderful manager; the only thing we need in this team is continuity,” Ndidi said.

He warned against reactive decisions, stressing that failure to reach the final should not overshadow the progress made under the current setup.

Contract situation and external interest

Chelle is currently on a two-year deal that expires next January. Given Nigeria’s AFCON performance, a contract extension is now firmly on the table.

However, the NFF may face competition, with countries like Tunisia and Algeria reportedly monitoring the situation closely. Any delay in decision-making could prove costly if Chelle becomes available.