ISTANBUL

Nigeria named Eric Sekou Chelle as the new head coach of the national football team, the Super Eagles.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said in a statement on Tuesday that Chelle "has the responsibility of guiding the Super Eagles to earn a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals." The federation, however, did not disclose the length of Chelle's contract.

The former Mali international, who spent just over two years managing the country's national team, was dismissed in June 2024. The 47-year-old led Mali to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

​​​​​​​Before Mali, he coached clubs such as Martigues and Boulogne in the French lower divisions.