Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle says his biggest ambition is to make history at Real Madrid as first African manager.

Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, has declared his ambition to make history as the first African to manage Spanish giants, Real Madrid, while also shedding light on a tense moment between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Speaking with Paris-based French broadcaster, RMC Sport, Chelle stated clearly: “My biggest dream? To become Real Madrid’s first-ever African coach.”

The 48-year-old Franco-Malian tactician took charge of Nigeria in January 2025 after the Super Eagles stumbled at the start of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Although Nigeria failed to secure a World Cup ticket, Chelle guided the team into the African playoffs as one of the best second-placed sides. The Eagles eventually lost to DR Congo in a penalty shootout in Morocco, while Nigeria’s petition over the eligibility of five dual-nationality players used by DR Congo is still before FIFA.

Chelle’s reputation, however, rose significantly after he led Nigeria to the semi-finals of AFCON 2025 without losing a match in regulation time. The Super Eagles went on to claim bronze after defeating Egypt in the third-place playoff.

Since the tournament, Chelle has attracted interest from several countries, boosting his coaching profile which began with French amateur side, Groupe Sportif Consolat in 2014. He also managed Mali between 2022 and 2024.

In the same interview, Chelle addressed speculations surrounding a heated exchange between Osimhen and Lookman during Nigeria’s Round of 16 encounter with Mozambique.

“On the pitch, there was a discussion with Lookman. Victor told him, ‘We need to stop playing in front of goal.’ Things got a little heated, a minor altercation, but that’s part of locker room life,” Chelle revealed.

He continued: “At the end of the match, he (Osimhen) went home upset; he needed time to calm down. And once he did, he became the Victor we know again.

“There was never any question of him not playing against Algeria (AFCON quarterfinal), never.

“What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. I didn’t even need to intervene. We went back to the hotel, they talked it over, and that was it.

“In front of goal, those two guys are top-level.

“Even better, this tension would almost make sense when you’re talking about two strikers obsessed with scoring.

“In front of goal, those two guys are top-level. Victor is a machine. If he doesn’t do his specific striker drills, if he doesn’t score in training, it drives him crazy. He wants to win everything. For him, it’s not a funfair. Lookman is the same, but calmer.

“Frankly, I’ve seen strikers, but to strike the ball like they do, right foot, left foot… that’s a very, very high level,” concludes the Super Eagles handlers. (AriseNews TV)

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