Former Super Eagles head coach Finidi George has voiced his opposition to the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to place Eric Chelle in charge of both the senior national team and the country’s U-23 side.
The NFF recently expanded Chelle’s responsibilities by appointing him head coach of the Olympic Eagles in addition to his role as Super Eagles manager, a move that has sparked debate among Nigerian football stakeholders.
Finidi, however, believes the arrangement places an unnecessary burden on the Malian tactician and could ultimately affect the effectiveness of both teams.
The former Nigeria international argued that managing the Super Eagles alone is already a demanding assignment, given the expectations surrounding the three-time African champions and their ongoing competitive commitments.
Adding the U-23 team to Chelle’s portfolio, Finidi suggested, risks stretching the coach too thin and diverting attention from the distinct objectives of each side.
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According to the former Ajax winger, the Olympic Eagles require a dedicated coach capable of focusing exclusively on player development, squad building and qualification campaigns.
Finidi stressed that a specialized coaching structure would be more beneficial for Nigerian football, particularly at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen its talent pipeline and improve results across all national team levels.
His comments add to the growing discussion surrounding the federation’s decision, with opinions divided over whether one coach can successfully oversee both programmes.
Supporters of the arrangement argue that having a single technical direction could create continuity between the senior team and age-grade sides, while critics believe the responsibilities are too extensive for one individual.
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Finidi’s intervention sounds valid given his experience within the national team setup. The former Enyimba coach previously served as an assistant with the Super Eagles before taking charge on an interim basis.
The debate is likely to continue as Chelle prepares for upcoming assignments with both the Super Eagles and Olympic Eagles, with the success or otherwise of the dual role experiment expected to determine whether the NFF’s decision proves justified.
