Former England international John Fashanu has declared interest in taking over from Eric Chelle as head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
He made this known during a brief interaction with journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The ex-Wimbledon striker said he believes he has what it takes to succeed with Nigeria’s national team.
“I want to be the manager of the Super Eagles,” Fashanu stated. “That is one of the hardest jobs in this country, but I am saying I can do it. I can do it with the right people—people who understand the game of football.
“It’s not about how much can you give us, Fash? It’s about getting players who can play in different countries and getting players with the right mentality and character. Players who want to play for the country.”
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Fashanu was born in England to a Nigerian father and a British Guiana mother, he chose to represent England internationally, earning only two caps due to the intense competition for places in the Three Lions squad at the time.
His bold demand comes at a time when the Super Eagles of Nigeria need intense calculations and total focus to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently appointed former Malian gaffer Chelle to oversee the affairs of the Super Eagles with no growing scrutiny of his performance so far.
Meanwhile, Eric Chelle — who recently took over from former Ajax star Finidi George — is not under pressure, having overseen just two matches without suffering a defeat.
The former Aston Villa striker is speculated to be a controversial package. He was previously bailed following his arrest in Abuja over a land dispute.
He was accused of criminal conspiracy, threat to life, intimidation, trespass, and obtaining by false pretense.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle
According to earlier reports by the Daily Mail, the issue arose after Fashanu received over £500,000 from foreign investors for a 22-acre site.
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However, he was detained alongside his lawyer after visiting the site and agreeing to meet with the police to resolve the situation.
The Super Eagles are set to participate in the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Morocco later this year.
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