Veteran journalist and former Super Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, has voiced his support for the appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Super Eagles head coach.
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However, he has strongly opposed the idea of Chelle taking charge of the CHAN Eagles, advocating for the continued leadership of Nigerian coaches Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu.
Ibitoye said, “While I am supporting Éric ‘water on head’ Chelle as our new manager 100%, I am totally against him taking over as the CHAN Eagles manager. He can join the team in a supervisory and contributory role, but please let the duo of Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu remain in charge.”
Ibitoye emphasized the importance of using the CHAN Eagles as a platform to develop homegrown coaching talent. “This is an opportunity for us to invest in the new generation of Nigerian coaches,” he added, appealing directly to NFF President Ibrahim Gusau to reconsider any plans to assign Chelle to the CHAN Eagles in a lead role.
His remarks highlight a growing conversation about the balance between leveraging foreign expertise and nurturing local talent within Nigerian football.
While Chelle’s appointment has been met with optimism for the Super Eagles, Ibitoye’s plea serves as a reminder of the importance of building a sustainable coaching pipeline for the future.
