Today, November 11, 2025, marks the 48th birthday of Super Eagles head coach eric Sekou Chelle, a man standing right at the center of Nigeria's football future. The pressure's big, the expectations even bigger, but so is the belief that he could be the one to lead the Super Eagles back to greatness. Right now the gaffer is celebrating his birthday in the camp of the team in Morocco as they prepare for the World Cup qualification clash against Gabon.
Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to a French father and a Malian mother, Chelle chose to represent Mali during his playing days, a solid, composed centre-back who earned five caps between 2004 and 2006. He had spells in France with Valenciennes and RC Lens, building a reputation for leadership and calm defending. Those same traits now shine through in his coaching.
When he took charge of the Super Eagles in January 2025, Nigeria's World Cup hopes were fading fast, with just three points from four qualifying matches. But under Chelle, the turnaround has been impressive.