Former Nigeria international Abiodun Obafemi has welcomed the decision to extend the contract of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle but has warned against giving the Franco-Malian too many responsibilities.
Obafemi believes Chelle has earned the confidence of the Nigeria Football Federation after bringing stability to the national team since taking charge.
“Eric Chelle deserves his contract extension because he has brought stability to the Super Eagles,” Obafemi said.
The former international, however, expressed reservations over the decision to appoint Chelle as coach of Nigeria’s U-23 national team in addition to his role with the senior side.
According to Obafemi, managing both teams simultaneously could place unnecessary pressure on the coach and distract him from his primary responsibility.
“Handling both the Super Eagles and the Dream Team will be a major distraction,” he added.
Obafemi stressed that the Super Eagles job alone demands total concentration, especially as Nigeria begins preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the qualification campaign for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
He warned that combining both positions could stretch Chelle’s workload beyond what is practical.
“The workload will be too much, and the Super Eagles should remain his main focus,” he stated.
While supporting continuity in the national team, Obafemi maintained that the NFF must ensure Chelle is given the right environment to succeed without overburdening him with multiple assignments.
