Super Eagles: Can Aliyu Zubairu succeed Eric Chelle? 3 key milestones for new Al Ahli of Sudan coach

Former Flying Eagles boss Aliyu Zubairu has been appointed head coach of Sudanese Premier League club Al Ahli SC Wad Madani on a two-year contract, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 62-year-old Nigerian tactician now takes charge of one of Sudan’s oldest football clubs as he looks to build on a coaching career that has seen him succeed with both youth and senior teams.

His latest appointment also puts him back on the continental stage, where strong performances could strengthen his reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading coaches and possibly place him among future candidates for the Super Eagles job after current national team coach Eric Chelle.

New challenge begins after Telecom Egypt exit

Zubairu’s appointment comes less than 48 hours after he mutually agreed to end his contract with Egyptian Second Division side Telecom Egypt SC. He replaces experienced Sudanese coach Farouk Jabra, whose contract expired at the end of last season.

His first task will be preparing Al Ahli Wad Madani for the new Sudanese Premier League campaign, which is expected to begin in August. However, the club’s biggest target will be the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup.

Al Ahli have been drawn against Tunisian giants Étoile du Sahel in the first preliminary round, with the two-legged tie scheduled for early September. It will be Zubairu’s first major continental test with his new club.

The challenge is even more demanding because ongoing domestic disruptions mean Al Ahli will host their league matches in Rwanda instead of Sudan this season. Managing a team away from its traditional home while competing in both domestic and continental competitions will require careful planning and strong leadership.

The Sudanese club believes Zubairu is the right man because of his impressive coaching record. He guided Nigeria’s Flying Eagles to the 2024 WAFU Zone B Championship title before leading the team to a third-place finish at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, securing qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

At club level, he enjoyed a memorable 2024 season with El-Kanemi Warriors, winning the President Federation Cup and helping the Maiduguri club earn promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League. Earlier, he also led Gombe United to promotion to the NPFL in 2021, further proving his ability to build successful teams.

Factors that could move Zubairu closer to the Super Eagles job

Although Eric Chelle remains in charge of the Super Eagles, Zubairu’s new role offers him a chance to strengthen his credentials for the future. To become a serious contender whenever the national team job becomes available, three major areas could define his progress.

The first is success in the CAF Confederation Cup. The Nigeria Football Federation has often valued coaches who have shown they can compete successfully in African competitions. Zubairu’s immediate target will be overcoming Étoile du Sahel, one of North Africa’s most respected clubs.

A place in the group stage would show he can prepare teams for high-pressure knockout football, while a run to the quarter-finals or beyond would further prove that his methods work against Africa’s strongest opponents.

The second factor is proving he can manage experienced senior stars.

Most of Zubairu’s biggest achievements have come with youth players or clubs considered underdogs. The Super Eagles, however, feature established international stars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, who play for major European clubs.

His time at Al Ahli gives him an opportunity to show he can successfully handle experienced professionals, manage different personalities, maintain discipline inside the dressing room and deal calmly with increased media attention.

The final factor is developing a more attacking tactical identity. Zubairu has earned praise throughout his coaching career for building organised and disciplined teams that are difficult to break down. While that approach has brought success, the Super Eagles are expected to play positive, attacking football that gets the best out of Nigeria’s talented forwards.

If he can help Al Ahli dominate possession, create more scoring chances, score consistently and show tactical flexibility by changing formations during matches, he will demonstrate another important quality expected of a future Super Eagles coach.

Zubairu’s focus at the moment will be on delivering success in Sudan. But if he can achieve strong results domestically and in the CAF Confederation Cup, his name could become an even stronger option whenever Nigeria begins searching for its next national team manager after Eric Chelle.