Olympique de Marseille are now in the market for another manager after the Ligue 1 club, and head coach Roberto De Zerbi recently agreed to part ways.
Among the names doing the rounds in French and Nigerian football circles is Eric Sékou Chelle, currently the head coach of the Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles.
Chelle, 48, was appointed Super Eagles boss in January 2025 after being endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and his contract runs through 2026. Paris-based journalist Ojora Babatunde reports that intermediaries have recommended Chelle as a potential option to replace De Zerbi.
Nigeria head coach, Eric Sékou Chelle has emerged as a potential candidate for Olympique de Marseille after being recommended by intermediaries in recent days. pic.twitter.com/c06sJXyopl
— Ojora Babatunde (@ojbsports) February 11, 2026
The Ivorian-born Franco‑Malian coach arrived in Abuja with a mandate to guide Nigeria’s senior men’s team into the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race.
Since then, he has led the Super Eagles to a third‑place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where Nigeria scored 14 goals across six matches and won the third‑place playoff on penalties against Egypt.
Chelle’s coaching resume includes national team leadership with Mali from 2022 to 2024 and earlier stints managing French clubs like GS Consolat, FC Martigues and Boulogne, followed by a brief tenure at MC Oran in Algeria before taking over Nigeria.
He also enjoyed a 16‑year playing career in France with clubs including Valenciennes, Lens and Istres.
Marseille’s recent domestic form has dipped from a second‑place finish last season to fourth in Ligue 1 this term.
Chelle was spotted in Marseille earlier this month among the crowd at the Orange Vélodrome for the club’s Coupe de France victory over Rennes, where he assessed players of Nigerian heritage.
