Eric Chelle, head coach of Nigeria’s national football team, revealed Monday his aspiration to become the inaugural African manager of Spanish giants Real Madrid, framing it as the pinnacle of his burgeoning career in European club football.
In an interview with French broadcaster RMC Sport’s After Afrique podcast, the Malian-born tactician outlined his ambitions amid a wave of acclaim for African coaches on the global stage.4005b9 “My dream is to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid,” Chelle stated.b
Chelle, a former defender for French club Valenciennes, recently steered the Super Eagles to a commendable third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, securing victories in all but one fixture.2f22fc The performance has elevated his profile, underscoring the continent’s growing influence in the sport.
Reflecting on earlier challenges, Chelle addressed a health scare during the 2023 AFCON while leading Mali, where he collapsed near the sidelines in a quarter-final loss to Ivory Coast — an episode that spawned the moniker “Waterman” after staff doused him to revive him.5d31e3 “During the preparation for the AFCON, I suffered from atrial fibrillation. My heart was beating at 200 beats per minute all the time. I was being monitored and taking medication, but I had dizziness and fainting spells,” he explained.a2d29b “I spent the entire AFCON like that. After the match, I needed to catch my breath and was about to faint. The physiotherapist next to me knew I was fainting and put water on my head to keep me awake.”
Post-tournament surgery has resolved the issue, with Chelle affirming: “It’s going very well.”8a994f
His candid revelations come as Nigerian football grapples with internal dynamics, including reported frictions among stars like Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen during the recent tournament. Chelle’s focus remains on future milestones, potentially paving the way for greater African representation at elite clubs.
