Former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju has joined the growing list of voices calling on the Nigeria Football Federation to retain Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.
Adepoju, popularly known as “The Headmaster,” said the Franco-Malian tactician has shown encouraging signs since taking charge of the national team and deserves the opportunity to continue building his project.
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“The coach has done well with the team,” Adepoju said. “Even though we did not qualify for the World Cup, there were clear improvements.”
Nigeria’s performance at the last Africa Cup of Nations particularly impressed the former midfielder, who believes the team showed enough promise to justify continuity.
“What we saw at AFCON shows that the team can improve further under him,” Adepoju noted.
According to Adepoju, stability remains crucial for the development of the national team, especially during a transitional phase that involves integrating younger players.
“Changing coaches too often can slow down progress,” he explained.
However, Adepoju acknowledged that reports about Chelle’s demands must be addressed carefully by both parties.
“If there are new demands, the coach and the federation should sit down and discuss them,” he said.
The former Real Sociedad midfielder emphasized that mutual understanding and compromise will be necessary to reach a solution.
“It’s about finding an agreement that works for both sides,” he added.
Adepoju concluded by expressing confidence that the Super Eagles can continue to grow if the current project is allowed to continue.
“The team has potential, and with patience and the right support, they can achieve greater things,” he stated.
His remarks reinforce calls for stability within Nigerian football as the Super Eagles look ahead to future competitions and rebuild momentum on the international stage.
