Eric Chelle’s move to Marseille collapses as club appoints new coach

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will not be taking over at Olympique Marseille, as the Ligue 1 club has confirmed the appointment of Habib Beye as their new head coach

Since the conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in January, Chelle’s future has been uncertain, with the Malian tactician linked to several high-profile roles.

He had been mentioned in connection with national team vacancies in Angola, Tunisia, and Algeria, and was most recently strongly tipped for the Marseille job following Roberto De Zerbi’s dismissal two weeks ago.

Chelle’s name gained traction in transfer rumours due to his strong connections in French football. His decision to join a new football agency on February 19 added fuel to speculation of a potential career move.

The uncertainty around Chelle’s future has also affected the Super Eagles, especially with a FIFA international window coming up next month. Nigeria is additionally awaiting the outcome of a FIFA inquiry into the DR Congo case, which could determine the team’s spot in the World Cup playoffs.

Marseille’s appointment of Beye ends any chance of Chelle moving to the Stade Vélodrome. Despite this, interest in him from other African nations remains strong. With just one year left on his contract and no extension yet from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chelle could still leave, with some teams offering the opportunity to participate in this year’s World Cup—a guarantee Nigeria cannot currently provide.

While the NFF has stated its intention to retain Chelle, formalising a contract extension will be crucial to ending the ongoing speculation over his future.