NFF APPOINTS A MALIAN AS SUPER EAGLES HEAD COACH

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of Mr. Éric Sékou Chelle as Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men national football team, Super Eagles.

At its meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, 2nd January 2025, the NFF Technical and Development Sub-Committee had recommended the appointment of former Coach of the senior men national team of Mali as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles. This recommendation was on Tuesday, 7th January endorsed by the NFF Executive Committee.

Chelle, who won five caps for the Aiglons of Mali and coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne and MC Oran, has been Head Coach of the Aiglons since 2022.

At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire, Chelle’s Mali came very close to a place in the semi-finals, losing to hosts and eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 after extra time, after leading by a lone goal until the final minute of regulation time.

 

The 47-year-old featured for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career.

His appointment is with immediate effect, and he has the responsibility of guiding the Super Eagles to earn a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, with the next round of matches (Matchdays 5 & 6) taking place in March.

STRUGGLING AKWA UNITED SIGNS MID-SEASON DEAL WITH BOBOYE

Akwa United Football Club has agreed a mid-season managerial contract with coach Kennedy Boboye.

The Management of the Club signed the deal with coach Boboye at the Club's office in Uyo on Monday January 6, 2025 and the coach is expected to begin work later this week.

Chairman of the club Elder Paul Bassey described "Boboye's return to the team as necessary, adding that the decision to re-assign the coach was because of his track records and previous achievements with the club".

Elder Bassey expressed optimism that the coach will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the team with a turnaround in the team's fortunes in the second half of the season.

Coach Boboye joined the Promise Keepers during the 2019-2020 NPFL season and won the league title with the club in the 2020-2021 season - his second league title as a coach after lifting the trophy with Plateau United in 2017.

Boboye was in-charge of Akwa United as the team made its CAF Champions League debut in 2021 and after a run of poor results, he resigned from his position as head coach of the team in 2022.

Following his departure from Akwa United, he had a brief stint with Heartland FC and Sunshine Stars before rejoining the Promise Keepers ahead of the second stanza of the 2024-2025 Nigeria Premier Football League season.