Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has been appointed as the new head coach of Nigeria’s U23 national team, the Dream Team, following a strategic meeting involving top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The decision was reached during a high-level meeting held on Tuesday at the NSC headquarters in Abuja as Nigerian football authorities intensified efforts to restore the country’s presence on the Olympic football stage.
Present at the meeting were NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, and Chelle himself.
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The appointment will see the Franco-Malian tactician take on dual responsibilities, overseeing both the Super Eagles and the Nigeria U23 side as preparations begin for upcoming Olympic qualification campaigns.
The move is viewed as part of a broader strategy to create continuity between the senior national team and the country’s emerging talents, with Chelle expected to implement a unified football philosophy across both levels.
Nigeria’s U23 team, popularly known as the Dream Team, occupies a special place in African football history.
The side became the first African nation to win Olympic football gold when it triumphed at the 1996 Atlanta Games, defeating Argentina in a memorable final after overcoming Brazil in the semi-finals.
The Dream Team later added a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and secured bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, making Nigeria the first African country to complete the full set of Olympic medals in men’s football.
However, the team has struggled to maintain that success in recent years, missing out on qualification for the last two Olympic Games.
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More details regarding his technical staff, programme and immediate objectives are expected to be announced in the coming days.
