The Super Eagles’ head coach Eric Chelle, has expressed his long-term goal of becoming the first African to lead the renowned Spanish club, Real Madrid.
The Malian-born coach stated that taking charge of Real Madrid would represent the pinnacle of his career as he continues to establish his reputation in football at both international and club levels.
In an interview with RMC Sport, Chelle emphasized that managing the European powerhouse is his ultimate aspiration.
“My dream is to be the first African coach of Real Madrid,” he stated.
Chelle recently enhanced his standing in the football community by leading Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, earning accolades from analysts and fans throughout the continent.
During the interview, the Super Eagles coach reflected on significant moments from the AFCON tournament, including challenges with squad management and reports of tension between players Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
He also revisited the well-known “water bottle” incident from the 2023 AFCON match against Mali, where he collapsed near the bench during a dramatic quarter-final defeat to Ivory Coast.
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This episode, which led to him being nicknamed “Waterman,” was later associated with a serious health issue.
On the After Afrique podcast, Chelle shared that he was experiencing atrial fibrillation during the tournament. “My heart was racing at 200 beats per minute.
“I felt dizzy and fainted. After the match, I was on the verge of passing out, and the physiotherapist poured water on my head to keep me alert,” he explained.
Chelle revealed that he underwent heart surgery following the tournament and reassured fans that his health has significantly improved.
“Everything is going very well,” he added.
