CHAN 2024: Nigerians demand coach Eric Chelle be sacked after humiliating defeat vs Sudan

Nigeria's humiliating exit from CHAN 2024 has sparked outrage among fans, who are demanding the immediate dismissal of coach Eric Chelle after the Super Eagles suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Sudan.

The defeat confirmed a disastrous campaign for Nigeria's home-based team, which became the first side in the competition’s history to concede five goals without scoring any. The loss has left supporters shocked, disappointed, and furious.

Social media erupted with calls for Chelle's head, as fans vented their frustrations in harsh and unambiguous terms. 

One angry Nigerian fan declared, “Eric Chelle has finished us.” Another exclaimed, “Eric Chelle has burnt Nigeria.” 

The most vocal demanded swift action: “Sack Eric Chelle NOW! First match, he started 6 Remo Stars players — we lost 1–0. Today, he started 7 Remo Stars players — we were humiliated 4–0 by Sudan. Why? Because his assistant coach is the coach of Remo Stars! If he can’t win these games, how will he qualify us for the World Cup? The earlier we get a new coach, the better for Nigeria!"

The backlash is rooted in both the poor results and controversial team selections that have plagued Chelle’s tenure. 

Analysts and fans have pointed to tactical missteps and an overreliance on players from Remo Stars FC, leading to a lack of cohesion and attacking threat. 

The Nigerian coach was also criticised for reshaping a qualified squad into a disjointed unit that has failed to find the net or defend effectively.

Chelle himself has acknowledged the severity of the situation, describing the 4-0 loss to Sudan as “the worst game I’ve overseen” in his coaching career. "We have lost all ambition. The CHAN is over for us. We have a third match to play for our honour and respect," he admitted to CAFonline. 

Despite preparations, Chelle, who had described the game as a game of the players' career, conceded that “we made a lot of mistakes… 4 mistakes, 4 goals,” underscoring the team's lack of readiness on the day.

As Nigeria faces mounting pressure with their World Cup qualifiers approaching, the calls to sack Chelle grow louder. Fans are demanding accountability and a swift change in leadership to salvage the country’s footballing pride.

The CHAN performance has become a national embarrassment, and for many Nigerians, the writing is on the wall: if changes are not made now, the road ahead looks very bleak.