Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami<\/a> has admitted to a change of heart regarding Eric Chelle<\/a>\u2019s appointment as Super Eagles head coach, revealing the Franco-Malian\u2019s detailed plan to transform the team, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Odegbami, a key figure in Nigeria\u2019s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations<\/a> triumph, was initially among those critical of the Nigeria Football Federation\u2019s decision to hire Eric Chelle. <\/p>\n The 46-year-old became the first non-Nigerian African coach to take charge of the three-time AFCON winners when he was appointed in January, a decision that caught many by surprise.<\/p>\n Chelle, a former Mali international, had an unremarkable playing career and had yet to secure a major managerial achievement before leading Mali to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. <\/p>\n With the NFF widely expected to turn to a European coach after the unsuccessful tenure of Finidi George<\/a>, the appointment of Chelle left figures like Odegbami questioning the Federation\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n However, after meeting Chelle for the first time this week in the company of NFF Secretary-General Muhammed Sanusi and National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, Odegbami was given insight into the coach\u2019s blueprint for the Super Eagles.<\/p>\n In his column for Complete Sports<\/a>, Nigeria\u2019s third-highest all-time goalscorer described Chelle\u2019s approach as reminiscent of Clemens Westerhof, the Dutch tactician who masterminded Nigeria\u2019s golden era in the 1990s.<\/p>\n READ MORE\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Odegbami highlighted Chelle\u2019s meticulous approach to player scouting and tactical philosophy, revealing the coach\u2019s commitment to building a cohesive and dynamic squad.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has been gathering information on all great players of Nigerian descent abroad and keeping their data,\u201d Odegbami wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cHe passes those born abroad and those that were bred in Nigeria through different prisms for his analysis. He has spent endless hours watching each one of the players at least five times in different matches to know them well. <\/p>\n \u201cHe is almost ready now. He would use the natural strength of Nigerian players to form his style of play \u2013 pressing hard when they lose the ball, spreading out and playing with confidence, strength, and speed when they are in possession. Getting to opposing goals in the shortest possible time and with the fewest number of passes.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are copies from Father Tiko and Clemens Westerhof\u2019s books of football. He reminded me of how Nigerian football was played when at its best\u2014quick forwards, quick counters, using strength and speed down the flanks.<\/p>\n \u201cAs he went on and on, he was making sense and raising confidence. He seems to know clearly what he wants to do.<\/p>\n \u201cFinally, it was clear he was not in Nigeria for the money that he would make. He wants to create history for the country and for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Chelle will have little time to settle, with Nigeria facing two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month. The Super Eagles travel to Kigali to take on Rwanda on March 21 before returning home to face Zimbabwe four days later.<\/p>\n Nigeria currently sit winless in their group after four matches, trailing Rwanda, South Africa, Benin, and Lesotho. With only the top team securing automatic qualification for the World Cup, Chelle\u2019s new approach must deliver results quickly.<\/p>\n The stakes could not be higher, but if Odegbami\u2019s assessment is anything to go by, Nigeria may just have found a coach capable of reigniting the Super Eagles\u2019 identity.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/imago1057624594-1.jpg\")
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Eric Chelle\u2019s game plan: A return to Nigeria\u2019s roots<\/h4>\n
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