Former Super Eagles striker Benedict Akwuegbu has cautioned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against burdening Eric Chelle with the full-time responsibility of coaching both the Super Eagles and the Nigeria U-23 team, insisting the arrangement could prove counterproductive.
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The former Nigeria international believes the Olympic Eagles should have a substantive head coach dedicated to the team, while Chelle should provide technical oversight to ensure continuity across the national team structure.
The NFF recently expanded Chelle’s responsibilities to include oversight of the U-23 side, a decision that has generated mixed reactions among former players and football stakeholders.
“Managing the Super Eagles alone is a huge responsibility. I don’t think it is ideal for Eric Chelle to combine both jobs on a full-time basis,” Akwuegbu said.
The former Wolfsburg striker argued that Nigeria would benefit more from adopting a unified football philosophy across all national teams, with Chelle overseeing the technical direction while a dedicated U-23 coach handles the day-to-day management of the Olympic Eagles.
According to Akwuegbu, such a structure would make it easier for promising young players to transition seamlessly into the senior national team.
“Eric Chelle should supervise the U-23 programme and establish the style of play, but there should be a substantive coach responsible for working with the players regularly. That way, the transition to the Super Eagles becomes much smoother,” he added.
Akwuegbu, who represented Nigeria at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, believes a coordinated approach across the national teams would strengthen player development while allowing Chelle to remain focused on his primary assignment with the Super Eagles.
The NFF has maintained that the expanded role is part of a broader strategy to improve alignment across Nigeria’s national teams, with Chelle expected to continue preparations for upcoming international assignments while overseeing the long-term development of the country’s emerging talent.
