Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle makes key move for FC Nantes manager role

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is increasingly focused on a return to club football in France, with the French Ligue 1 now emerging as his preferred next challenge, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 48-year-old has quietly taken steps that suggest he is preparing for a possible managerial opportunity at FC Nantes.

Born in Abidjan to a French father and Malian mother, Chelle grew up in France and built his entire playing career there. The former defender represented clubs including Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais before switching to coaching. At international level, he chose to represent Mali.

Eric Chelle has met with the President of Marseille over the vacant position as no talks with the NFF.

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After beginning his managerial journey with lower-division French sides, Chelle’s reputation rose sharply when he became Mali’s national team coach. He guided the Eagles to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023, impressing observers with his organisation and tactical discipline. That success helped him secure the Nigeria job in January 2025, and later that year he led the Super Eagles to the semi-finals of the 2025 AFCON.

However, failure to qualify for the World Cup has reshaped Chelle’s ambitions.

Keen to test himself again in European club football, he applied for the managerial vacancy at Olympique de Marseille following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi, but the club opted to appoint Habib Beye instead. While he is wanted by Angola, Chelle’s attention has presently shifted towards Nantes.

Eric Chelle closing in on Nantes opportunity

While Nantes have not officially decided to replace current coach Ahmed Kantari, results have increased pressure on the club’s leadership. A run of five straight Ligue 1 defeats has dragged the Canaries into the relegation battle, widening the gap between them and safer teams such as Le Havre AC.

Despite Kantari retaining the backing of club executives for now, uncertainty remains.

Reports from French journalist Romain Molina, as per Foot1, indicate that Eric Chelle is actively positioning himself as a potential successor should results fail to improve.

One notable step has been Chelle’s decision to change representation. He recently joined Wilders Sport, an agency that already has strong links with Nantes, including ties to reserve-team coach Stéphane Ziani and forward Ignatius Ganago.

The move is widely viewed as strategic rather than coincidental. By aligning himself with figures connected to the Beaujoire club, Chelle appears ready to move quickly if Nantes decide to make a managerial change, especially if another defeat deepens their Ligue 1 crisis.

At the moment, the former Lens defender is tasked with preparing the Super Eagles for friendly games against Jordan and Iran next month.