- He acknowledged previously expressing a desire to become the first African coach at Real Madrid
- He said his immediate dream is to secure AFCON glory with Nigeria
- the Malian tactician has indicated he remains focused on his role
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has spoken of his ambition to lead the Super Eagles to continental and global success, saying he hopes to win both the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup with the team.
At the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Nigeria emerged as the tournament’s top-scoring side but fell short of reaching the final after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to hosts Morocco in the semifinals.
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The defeat ended a campaign widely praised for the team’s attacking flair and determination.
Earlier setbacks had also dented the country’s World Cup aspirations. Two months before the AFCON semifinal, the Super Eagles were eliminated from contention following another shootout defeat, this time against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat.
Since the continental tournament concluded, Chelle’s position has been the subject of debate, with speculation about his future circulating in Nigeria and beyond. However, the Malian tactician has indicated he remains focused on his role.
Speaking on the Histoires de Foot Podcast, Chelle discussed his long-term goals. He acknowledged previously expressing a desire to become the first African coach at Real Madrid, but stressed that his ambitions extend beyond club football.
He said his immediate dream is to secure AFCON glory with Nigeria and to guide the Super Eagles back to the World Cup, with the ultimate aim of lifting the trophy. Chelle added that, at 48, he still considers himself young and determined to achieve his objectives.
The coach has one year left on his current contract, while the Nigeria Football Federation retains the option to extend his tenure until 2027.
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