Today, November 11, 2025, marks the 48th birthday of Super Eagles head coach Éric Sékou 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.
Softfootball reports that in six games, Nigeria have won four and drawn two, grabbing 14 points out of a possible 18, including that impressive 4-nil trashing of Benin. That surge pushed them to second place in CAF Group C and into the World Cup intercontinental playoffs against Gabon on November 13.
Yet, Chelle’s job goes beyond numbers and tactics. It’s also about rebuilding belief. The Super Eagles have also wished their gaffer with a French-written birthday wish uploaded via the team’s X account.
They posted:
Chelle, who led Mali to the 2023 AFCON quarter-finals, now has his eyes on the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, with earlier reports suggesting that. He’s spoken often about unity and values, insisting his work with the Super Eagles is about more than football.
As he turns 48, Chelle faces perhaps the most defining months of his coaching career: the World Cup playoff and the AFCON. The expectations are sky-high, but so too is the belief that he’s the right man for the job.
For now, one thing’s clear, as Nigeria celebrates their coach’s birthday, the nation waits, watches, and dreams.
