Emenike: Eric Chelle will thrive with Super Eagles, doubts W’Cup qualification

Kelvin Ekerete
3 Min Read

Former Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has backed newly appointed Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle to succeed in his new role with the Nigerian senior men’s national team. 

The Franco-Malian was appointed as the new Eagles manager in January, an appointment that drew nationwide criticism not only on the coach due to his credentials but also on the federation as several fans believe an indigenous coach would have been better suited for the national team. 

Chelle’s main task is to qualify Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Eagles are in a precarious position as they currently sit fifth out of six teams on the Group C log, four points behind Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin while they are two points behind Lesotho.

Emenike: Eric Chelle will thrive with Super Eagles, doubts W'Cup qualification
Emenike celebrates a goal

Chelle achieved success during his two-year stint with his home country leading them to the quarter-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations before they were knocked out by hosts and eventual winners Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals. 

Emenike, a 2013 AFCON winner with Nigeria believes that Chelle has what it takes to succeed with Nigeria as he has a lot to prove to himself and the Nigerian fans who had shared their disappointment over his appointment. 

“I think he (Chelle) will do well because he has a lot of things to prove. They left a lot of local coaches to employ him. I believe he has so much and a lot to offer the country,” said the ex-international who scored nine career goals for the Super Eagles told Bold Sports.

Emenike: Eric Chelle will thrive with Super Eagles, doubts W'Cup qualification
Chelle

He also stated that Chelle has a lot of good and game-winning players in the squad who will go on to make things easier for him.

“We have a lot of players who can win games. Osimhen can win games, he’s a fighter. We have Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and many more in the team who can win games. I believe that with a little bit of hard work and if they can tell themselves the truth, they can go far.”

Speaking on Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Emenike said the possibility of qualifying is 50-50, “I will go 50-50 for that. We’re in a very shaky situation,” the Fenerbahce legend said.

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