Former Nigeria international Sam Sodje has voiced strong opposition to Eric Chelle being placed in charge of both the Super Eagles and Nigeria’s under-23 Olympic side, arguing that the dual assignment is likely to create problems rather than deliver success.
Nigeria’s Olympic team is presently preparing in camp for next month’s qualifying tie against DR Congo, with a place in the men’s football tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games in California at stake.
Speaking in an interview broadcast on Brila FM, Sodje said he struggled to understand why one coach had been given responsibility for the country’s senior and under-23 national teams.
“I cannot think of another country where one coach is in charge of the senior national side and the Olympic team simultaneously,” Sodje said. “This is particularly difficult in Nigeria at the moment, because the Super Eagles are finding AFCON qualification difficult and he has not performed especially well either.”
The former defender said the under-23 programme should receive dedicated leadership, pointing to the impact of Nigeria’s celebrated 1996 Olympic champions, widely remembered as the Dream Team. “We understand the significance of the U23 team and the Olympic team. The 1996 Dream Team brought Nigerians great football joy. We want what is best for Nigeria.”
Nigeria claimed Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 before taking silver at Beijing 2008, becoming the first African nation to secure every Olympic medal colour in men’s football. The country’s last appearance in the men’s Olympic competition came at Rio 2016.
Sodje also took issue with Chelle for agreeing to oversee both teams, suggesting there were other options available. “The fact that a coach would accept both roles tells you he is average,” he said. “There are plenty of young coaches capable of doing that work.”
Chelle became Super Eagles head coach in January 2025 before later receiving a fresh contract that also put the under-23 side under his supervision, as announced by the National Sports Commission. In 27 senior internationals under Chelle, Nigeria have recorded 16 victories, nine draws and two defeats. Among those matches was a World Cup playoff elimination against DR Congo, who won on penalties after a 1-1 draw. DR Congo will also provide the Olympic team’s next opposition.
Reports have indicated that Nigeria’s forthcoming Olympic qualifying fixtures could take place during the same international window as the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania. Sodje has therefore urged the next Nigeria Football Federation board to split the positions and prevent future fixture conflicts.
“I hope the incoming NFF board recognises how vital it is to separate the two roles,” he said. “He should not be trying to manage the Super Eagles and Olympic team together. Right now, his focus ought to be on the Super Eagles. Whatever the results are, the jobs should be divided.”
Sodje said Nigeria’s fans should expect more from the national-team structure, while wishing both sides well in their upcoming commitments. “Nigerian supporters deserve better. I wish them good luck and hope they get the result we require. But having one manager oversee both the Super Eagles and the Olympic team is plainly a ridiculous decision.”
