Sports

NFF President Appeals for Support for New Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle

Published

2 months ago

January 12, 2025

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has called on Nigerians to rally behind the newly appointed Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Éric Sékou Chelle, and provide him with the support needed to succeed. Gusau assured that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would also extend all necessary assistance to help Chelle excel in his new role.

“We appreciate the passion Nigerians have for football, which has led to varied reactions following Coach Chelle’s appointment. However, we appeal to everyone to support him, as we believe he has the qualities to achieve success with the Super Eagles,” Gusau stated.

The NFF will formally unveil the 47-year-old Franco-Malian on Monday at the Media Conference Room of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

Chelle’s appointment, confirmed last Tuesday by the NFF Executive Committee, follows recommendations by the Technical and Development Committee. Gusau highlighted Chelle’s fresh energy, innovative thinking, and positive attitude, which the NFF hopes will help the Super Eagles succeed in their six remaining matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

At the unveiling, the NFF will also reveal the names of Chelle’s assistants, who will support him as he leads the Super Eagles B team at next month’s African Nations Championship in East Africa. The focus will then shift to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, starting with matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.

Chelle, who previously led Mali’s Aiglons to the brink of the 2023 AFCON semi-finals, recently left his role at Algerian club MC Oran to join the Super Eagles.

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Sports

The Next Messi or Ronaldo Will Come from Africa -Founder of Next Level Scouting

Published

1 hour ago

March 21, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

One of the world’s top scouting agents and the founder of Next Level Scouting, Jouko Gorissen, has expressed confidence that the next football superstar comparable to Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo will emerge from Africa, particularly Nigeria, given the immense talent present in the country.

The event, organized in partnership with USYAK Academy, has attracted over 10 scouts from across the globe, all keen on identifying future football stars.

Speaking at the ongoing Next Level Scouting 2025 event inside the turf Arena pitch Central Business Area on Friday, in Abuja, Nigeria, Jouko Gorissen emphasized the importance of discovering and nurturing young players with exceptional potential.

The Next Level Scouting programme has brought together over 300 young players from 16 academies across Nigeria, with successful players set to secure opportunities in top footballing nations such as Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands.

“We have 10 scouts on the ground and another 198 scouts worldwide watching the games online. There are 16 teams competing for professional contracts, and opportunities are not limited to Europe alone.

“Clubs from Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, America, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, and even Australia are watching right now.”

He praised Nigerian players for their distinct style of play, saying: Nigerian players are known for high-paced, high-intensity, strong, and technical football.

“We’ve already spotted a few players in the first game who seem ready to take the next step.”
Gorissen expressed optimism about Africa’s football future: “Studies suggest that the next Messi or Ronaldo will come from Africa. This is what we hope to see here.

“Our job is to find the right clubs where these players can develop and progress to the next level.”

In his remarks, Usman Alfa, Chairman of USYAK Academy and Team Manager of Niger Tornadoes FC, emphasized the dual purpose of scouting-talent discovery and financial investment.
“Our goal is to discover talents and generate revenue because football is both a passion and a business.

“We have 16 academies participating, giving young players a platform to showcase their skills.
“Each team will play two matches, and the best talents will be selected to advance in their football careers.”

The Next Level Scouting 2025 event is set to be a game-changer for Nigerian football, offering young players a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be scouted by top clubs worldwide. With extensive global interest and investment in African football, the dream of producing the next football icon from the continent is closer than ever.

However, the Chairman of Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo, who was the special guest of honour kick off the event inside Turf Arena central Area of Nigeria.

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