Super Eagles’ gaffer, Eric Sekou Chelle has an outstanding status among the four African coaches remaining with teams at this year’s Nations Cup in Morocco, as he is the only one working in a foreign country.
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Sports247 reports that, while the other three semi-finalists at the 2025 AFCON – Morocco, Egypt and Senegal – all have coaches from their own country, Chelle is a Malian working for fellow-West African country, Nigeria.
Dramatically, Chelle is seen in a historic swap with former Super Eagles’ captain, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, who previously coached Mali’s national team before returning home to handle Nigeria’s squad.
Keshi went on to win the AFCON title in 2013, thereby becoming the second man to lift the cup as a player and later coach, which could be a symbolic boost in Chelle’s hopes of also winning the trophy with Nigeria.
Although Chelle will have to first guide the Eagles over hosts Morocco in Wednesday’s semi-final and get closer to winning AFCON 2025, the Franco-Malian tactician would take more confidence in his peculiar status.
That status includes the fact that his nationality cuts across three countries – having been born in Cote d’Ivoire to a Malian father and French mother – which means he will also bring some European ideologies to bear on his quest.
Chelle’s status also includes his previous stint as the head coach with Mali’s national team at the last AFCON in his country of birth plus extra values gained during a stint with MC Oran FC of Algeria.
His tactical acumen, which has seen Nigeria as the only team that got five straight victories at this AFCON, has been cited in a feature article published by the official website of Confederation of African Football (CAF), while celebrating four native tacticians left in the hunt for glory.
The article by cafonline noted in part, “For the first time in AFCON history, all four semi-finalists in 2025 are guided by African coaches, guaranteeing that the fourth successive edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be won by a homegrown tactician.
“A clear pattern has emerged in recent tournaments. Djamel Belmadi led Algeria to victory in 2019, Aliou Cissé guided Senegal to their first AFCON crown in 2021, and Émerse Fae delivered Côte d’Ivoire’s title in 2023.
“Now, Walid Regragui of Morocco, Hossam Hassan of Egypt, Pape Thiaw of Senegal and Eric Chelle of Mali have the opportunity to continue this proud legacy and reinforce the dominance of African managers on the continental stage.”
Incidentally, in a symbolic recognition of his outstanding status among the four remaining tacticians at AFCON 2025, Chelle’s photograph is used twice to add graphic relevance to the article – at the beginning and end.
It added: “Statistics underline the impact of local coaches at AFCON 2025: 15 of the 24 participating teams were led by African managers, 11 of those advanced beyond the group stage, and African-led teams claimed 75% of all wins so far.
“From Morocco to Egypt, Senegal to Nigeria, these managers are combining tactical innovation with leadership, inspiring players and shaping matches.
“Their ability to motivate, adapt, and read the game has become a decisive factor.
“A rare class of achievement exists for only two African legends—Mahmoud El-Gohary and Stephen Keshi—who have won the AFCON both as a player and as a coach. Hossam Hassan could join this elite duo if he guides Egypt to victory.”
