The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee has approved the appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles.

The decision, which was formally endorsed by the NFF Executive Committee on January 7, 2025, followed the recommendation of the NFF’s Technical and Development Sub-Committee during its meeting held in Abuja on January 2, 2025.

Chelle, 47, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having managed clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran. He also has international coaching experience, having led Mali’s senior national team to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.

During his playing career in France, Chelle represented several clubs, including Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais. Born in Côte d’Ivoire to a French father and a Malian mother, Chelle was eligible to represent Côte d’Ivoire, France, and Mali. He opted for Mali, earning five caps before retiring.

As Mali’s head coach from 2022 to 2024, Chelle recorded an impressive 14 wins, five draws, and three losses. His tenure with Mali ended in June 2024.

The Super Eagles’ head coach position became vacant following Finidi George’s resignation after disappointing results in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, including a draw against South Africa and a loss to the Benin Republic. Chelle’s appointment is effective immediately, and his primary task will be to guide Nigeria to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

The crucial Matchday 5 and 6 qualifiers are scheduled for March.

As January transfer quite busy with some solo move to emerge in the last minutes of the window, Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen’s camp has insisted that the sole possible move that would actualise his dream is the trending Manchester United move.

At the weekend, ThePapers reported that Osimhen’s camp had confirmed the player’s desire to join Manchester United.

It comes after reports of the forward being utilised in a Marcus Rashford swap deal gained momentum, with United’s No.10 currently preparing to sit out of his sixth straight game after being cast aside by Ruben Amorim.

For any potential deal to materialise, his parent club, Napoli, will have to terminate his loan with Galatasaray mid-season.

The 26-year-old has notched 13 goals and five assists in only 15 appearances since 2024/2025 got underway, leading to him being hailed as ‘the best striker in Turkey’.

The camp told ThePapers that Osimhen is looking forward to make bigger move after a disappointing transfer saga between him and Napoli last summer and a move to Manchester United will be ideal for his calibre of player.

“He’s not leaving Galatasaray this January,’ Osimhen’s camp confirmed.

“Victor has mission immediately he left Napoli in that situation and he’s an intelligent player that knows what he wants and that’s why he keeps giving more than 100% to Galatasaray to prove he’s a worthy player.”

“Manchester United has history and they are bigger, so playing at Old Trafford is 100% sure dream at this moment, we don’t know tomorrow,’ a source from the camp emphatically stated.

Manchester United target, Victor Osimhen is likely to be among top Premier League earners as Napoli are ready to seal a deal with Old Trafford club.

ThePapers earlier reported that Osimhen is already on the verge of fulfilling his dream of playing in the English Premier League, with a possible move to Manchester United.

Several reports have confirmed the interest of Manchester United in signing the striker in a swap transfer Marcus Rashford

The £60million-rated Manchester United forward has snubbed three offers from Saudi Arabia — worth up to £675,000 A WEEK — because he wants to win back his England place.

A move to another European club would give Rashford a platform to do that with Napoli’s former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte looking at a deal for the disillusioned star.

In the earning demand of Osimhen’s camp, ThePapers confirms that if the deal fell through, the Nigerian striker’s salary could topple two key players in the team.

Under-fire United manager Ruben Amorim is desperate to strengthen this month and Conte’s interest in Rashford, 27, has opened the door to signing Osimhen.

The Nigerian — who has a £62m release clause — is on loan at Galatasaray but United could land the 26-year-old this month.

He has scored 65 goals in 108 Serie A matches for Napoli since joining from Lille in 2020.

In a proposed deal, Manchester United could offer Osimhen a staggering salary that would rank him among the top Premier League earners according to the players’ camp confirmed the deal on Friday evening to ThePapers.

ThePapers can authoritatively reports that Nigeria’s star striker Victor Osimhen is already on the verge of fulfilling dream of playing in the English Premier League, with a possible move to Manchester United.

Several reports have confirmed the interest of Manchester United in signing the striker in a swap transfer Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford is at the centre of a stunning swap deal involving Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Victor Osimhen scores Galatasaray’s first goal of 2025

The £60million-rated Manchester United forward has snubbed three offers from Saudi Arabia — worth up to £675,000 A WEEK — because he wants to win back his England place.

A move to another European club would give Rashford a platform to do that with Napoli’s former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte looking at a deal for the disillusioned star.

Under-fire United manager Ruben Amorim is desperate to strengthen this month and Conte’s interest in Rashford, 27, has opened the door to signing Osimhen.

The Nigerian — who has a £62m release clause — is on loan at Galatasaray but United could land the 26-year-old this month.

He has scored 65 goals in 108 Serie A matches for Napoli since joining from Lille in 2020.

A source from Osimhen’s camp told ThePapers that the inform striker will move to Manchester United hopefully Napoli agrees on the dealings.

“Victor will move, he may wear the red colours in England, there are moves already and it is what he want,” said the source.

Amorim would love to work with Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres again but agreed he would not sign players from his former club until the summer at the earliest.

The Portuguese is short of goal scorers and dropped Rashford over his “standards” for the 2-1 Premier League derby win at Manchester City on December 15.

He has not played under Amorim for five games — despite three straight league losses leaving United 14th and facing a relegation battle.

Rashford has been offered the chance to become the best-paid English player in history by clubs in Saudi Arabia more than doubling his £315,000 weekly pay packet to £675k.

That £35m-a-year offer is almost 70 per cent more than the £400,000 a week that England skipper Harry Kane, 31, earns at Bayern Munich.

Catching the eye of the new England boss Thomas Tuchel is a priority for the 60-cap forward, who has not played international football since March.

Despite saying in December he is ready for “a new challenge”, it is understood he has not ruled out staying at Old Trafford where he is under contract until 2028.

The club could do with a big windfall for home-grown Rashford as they look to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules and give Amorim funds to reshape the squad.

United held interest in Osimhen last summer, while moves to Chelsea and Saudi fell through.

Victor Osimhen scores Galatasaray’s first goal of 2025

Nigerian music artist Adekunle Gold has commented on Manchester United’s disappointing performance during the initial stages of the 2024-25 season.

The “Sade” crooner has never hidden his love and passion for the 13-time English Premier League champions, often visiting Old Trafford to support their games and even modelling for the club.

In a video circulating on social media, Adekunle Gold lamented his decision to support Manchester United and offered his thoughts to newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim.

The artist suggested that the coach sell all the players except Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo when the transfer window opens.

Amorim took over at Manchester United after the club parted ways with Dutch manager Erik ten Hag. The Portuguese manager left an almost perfect Sporting CP side to face a new challenge with the Premier League outfit.

Since taking charge, Amorim has overseen 11 matches, with his team winning four, losing six, and drawing one. The Red Devils have also endured a four-match losing streak under his management.
Should Amorim Consider a January Transfer Overhaul?

A frustrated Adekunle Gold has called on Amorim to sell most of the squad, but the manager faces significant challenges in making changes during the January transfer window due to financial fair play (FFP) restrictions.

“We don’t have that possibility in January if we don’t take some players [out],” Amorim said, as quoted by BBC Sports. “You know the situation better than me. It is not that I am arriving here and know I can spend money changing the team.”

While selling players could free up resources and make space for new signings, the January transfer window often poses difficulties, as player demand may be limited during this period.
Whether Amorim can manage these challenges remains to be seen, but Manchester United faithful, including Adekunle Gold, will be hoping for a turnaround in the second half of the season campaign.