The Super Eagles coaching crew is spearheaded by the head coach, Eric Chelle, but not many fans recognise the other staff who put in the work to make the Nigerian Football team function optimally.
Nigeria have been drawn into AFCON Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda. To reach the latter stages of the competition, the backroom staff and the players on the pitch have to be in unison.
With over 220 million Nigerians backing the country to win their 4th AFCON Gold medal, Soccernet.ng brings to the fore the other five members of Eric Chelle’s coaching crew.
Meet the Super Eagles Coaching Crew
1. Eric Chelle
The 48-year-old Franco-Malian manager was appointed as the head coach of the Super Eagles in the first week of January 2025, and without a doubt, he has improved the results Nigeria recorded under Jose Peseiro and Finidi George.
The former RC Lens defender averages 1.8 points per game with the three-time AFCON winners and will be hoping to etch his name into history by adding another at the end of the AFCON 2025 tournament.
Chelle, alongside his backroom staff from his time with Algerian side, MC Oran – First assistant Hedi Taboubi, fitness trainer Thomas Gornourec, and goalkeeper trainer Jean Daniel Padovani.
2. Daniel Ogunmodede
Popularly nicknamed Ijaball, the Remo Stars head coach was named as an assistant during Augustine Eguavoen’s reign as the Super Eagles’ interim manager between August and December 2024.
The one-time NPFL winner continued in the same role when Eric Chelle arrived, and was poised to lead the Super Eagles B team to the CHAN 2024 tournament before Chelle took over those duties as well.
Ogunmodede made history with Remo Stars, leading the Sky Blue Stars to their maiden league trophy, and the rest of the coaching staff will highly value his input about the players in the local league.
3. Fidelis Ilechukwu
Like Ogunmodede, the Rangers head coach was the second assistant Eguavoen appointed during his interim tenure.
Ilechukwu also won the NPFL title with Rangers, a season before Ogunmodede achieved the same feat with Remo Stars. Off the pitch, the duo are best of friends.
4. Hedi Taboubi
The 42-year-old was born in France but also holds a Tunisian passport. Like Gournourec and Padovani, Taboubi already worked with Chelle during his time in charge of the Malian National team and at MC Oran.
Prior to working with Chelle, Taboubi worked as an assistant and a video analyst with the Comoros Football team.
5. Thomas Gornourec
Born in Lille, France, Gournourec possesses a UEFA A license, but works as the fitness trainer of the Super Eagles. He’s worked with several African countries like Madagascar, Mali and MC Algiers in the past.
The 38-year-old also holds a master’s degree in Professional Performance Engineering from the University of Lille.
6. Jean Daniel Padovani
In his playing days as a goalkeeper, Padovani racked up over 150 appearances for tier-one French clubs like OGC Nice and Angers. He is the goalkeeping coach of the Super Eagles.
After working as the Academy goalkeeping coordinator at Paris Saint-Germain, the 45-year-old became a part of Eric Chelle’s three-man team, although he’s previously worked with Comoros and Cameroon.