In a surprising turn of events, former Nigerian international Sunday Oliseh has publicly endorsed Eric Chelle to remain as head coach of the Super Eagles despite the team's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
From Critic to Supporter
The football legend, who was initially one of the most vocal opponents of Chelle's appointment, has completely changed his position after witnessing the coach's performance over eleven months. Oliseh had strongly criticized the Nigeria Football Federation's decision to hire the Franco-Malian coach in January 2025, describing the move as an insult to indigenous Nigerian coaches.
Eric Chelle made history as the first non-Nigerian African to coach the Super Eagles, taking over from interim manager Augustine Eguavoen. His primary mandate was to salvage Nigeria's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign after a poor start under previous coaches.
World Cup Qualification Campaign
Despite ultimately falling short, Chelle's tenure showed significant improvement in the team's performance. Under his guidance, the Super Eagles went unbeaten through six group stage matches to secure a playoff spot. The team demonstrated their potential with an impressive 4-1 victory over Gabon in the playoff semi-final before suffering heartbreak against DR Congo in the final.
The crucial match against DR Congo ended in a penalty shootout defeat, marking Nigeria's second consecutive World Cup absence after missing the Qatar 2022 tournament. This failure has left Nigerian football fans deeply disappointed and sparked widespread criticism of the NFF's leadership.
Oliseh's Dramatic Change of Heart
What makes Oliseh's endorsement particularly remarkable is his previous strong opposition to Chelle's appointment. The former Super Eagles captain and coach now believes the manager shouldn't shoulder the blame for the World Cup qualification failure.
"Well, I don't think we could say that the manager lost it off, because I am one of those in reality who were totally unhappy when he was appointed, but I must be honest with you, so far, he has won me over," Oliseh stated during an appearance on Global Football Insight.
The former midfielder highlighted Chelle's superior record compared to his predecessors, noting that the coach accumulated 14 points from a possible 18 in the qualifiers. This represented a significant improvement over Jose Peseiro, who managed only two points from draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and Finidi George, who secured just one point.
Oliseh concluded that the playoff defeat to DR Congo wasn't due to structural faults in Chelle's approach but rather reflected deeper, long-standing problems within Nigerian football that have plagued the national team for years.
The endorsement comes amid growing calls for overhauling the NFF leadership, with many critics arguing that the federation has failed to develop Nigerian football properly. Meanwhile, Chelle himself made headlines by accusing DR Congo of using voodoo during the penalty shootout, claiming he witnessed their backroom staff swinging a water bottle in suspicious manner.
