Eric Chelle, the newly appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, shared his deep admiration for the team during his unveiling on Monday in Abuja.
The 47-year-old revealed that his passion for Nigerian football spans decades, as he closely followed the team and even attended some of their matches.
Chelle recalled being in Marseille during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he had the opportunity to follow Nigeria’s games at the tournament.
Among the standout moments for him was Nigeria's unforgettable 3-2 victory over Spain in an extraordinary match at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
That iconic victory, one of Nigeria’s greatest World Cup moments, not only captured Chelle’s heart but also earned the respect and admiration of football fans around the globe.
The game that made Eric Chelle a Super Eagles fan
After a stellar showing in their World Cup debut four years earlier in the United States, expectations were high for Nigeria heading into the 1998 World Cup in France.
However, the build-up to the tournament was chaotic, and the team’s preparation was further disrupted by a change in leadership, with Bora Milutinović taking over as head coach.
Nigeria was drawn into Group D alongside Spain, Bulgaria, and Paraguay, with ambitions to surpass their achievements from the previous edition.
On a windy afternoon in June in Nantes, Nigeria faced European powerhouse Spain to kick off their World Cup campaign.
Spain controlled the early stages of the match and even struck the crossbar, sending an early warning to Nigeria.
Eventually, Fernando Hierro broke the deadlock with a free kick that sailed past the wall and Nigerian goalkeeper Peter Rufai.
Just four minutes later, Nigeria levelled the score. Garba Lawal swung in a free kick that found Mutiu Adepoju, whose aerial prowess saw him rise highest to head the ball into the net, bringing the Super Eagles back into the game.
That equalizer energized the Nigerian side, but Spain regained the lead early in the second half when Raúl latched onto a flighted through ball to volley home.
With Nigeria trailing 2-1, the Super Eagles needed a response, and they delivered in style.
In the 73rd minute, Jay-Jay Okocha launched a long ball to Rashidi Yekini, who controlled it expertly and set up Garba Lawal.
Lawal attempted a cutback, but goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta inadvertently pushed the ball into his own net, levelling the score at 2-2.
The winning goal is one that remains etched in the memories of Nigerian football fans. Five minutes after the equalizer, a long throw from Jay-Jay Okocha was headed out by the Spanish defence but fell kindly to Sunday Oliseh.
From 35 yards out, Oliseh unleashed a thunderous shot that flewinto the net, sealing a historic 3-2 victory for Nigeria.
It was a game for the ages, one that undoubtedly left a lasting impression on Eric Chelle, who now takes charge of the team he’s admired for so long.
