Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has voiced his full support for new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, stressing the importance of backing him through the challenges ahead.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officially appointed the Malian coach as the permanent manager of the Super Eagles on Tuesday.
Chelle's appointment has sparked considerable criticism among Nigerian football fans, many of whom question the 47-year-old's competence and technical expertise.
Despite the pressure, Ikpeba, a member of the NFF's technical committee, remains optimistic that Chelle can guide the team to success and secure their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ikpeba calls for support as Chelle takes charge of Super Eagles' World Cup quest
In a recent interview with Brila FM, Ikpeba expressed his full support for Eric Chelle, reaffirming his confidence in the coach's ability to navigate the challenges of World Cup qualification and lead the team to success.
“The appointment of a coach for the Super Eagles will always generate a lot of interest. Even if we had appointed Pep Guardiola (Manchester City coach), there would still be complaints.
“Eric Chelle is a young coach who will succeed with our support. We’re in a tight corner in the World Cup qualifying campaign, and we must back him to get the best out of the players, who are the main actors in this situation.”
The three-time African champions are currently in fifth place in their six-team group, having earned just three points from their first four matches. in a group that includes Rwanda, Benin, South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.
Chelle will take charge of the Super Eagles for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March, with crucial matches against Rwanda on March 17 and Zimbabwe on March 24.
