Eric Chelle, Nigeria’s Super Eagles coach, has stated that his long-term goal is to become the first African to manage Spanish club Real Madrid, citing the achievement as a defining moment in his coaching career.
The Malian-born strategist revealed the information when discussing his future goals and desire to compete at the highest level of European club football.
Speaking in a televised interview with RMC Sport’s After Afrique podcast, which aired on X on Monday, the former Valenciennes player stated that coaching Real Madrid remains his ultimate goal as he continues to raise his worldwide reputation.
“My dream is to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid,” Chelle said.
Chelle recently led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Super Eagles have had huge success in the campaign, winning all but one match throughout the campaign.
The event increased Chelle’s status and earned praise from observers who saw his ambition as a reflection of African coaches’ growing global fame.
In the interview, the Super Eagles coach also discussed crucial incidents from the 2025 AFCON, like team management issues and rumored problems between Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
He also discussed the widely publicized “water bottle” incident at the 2023 AFCON with Mali, which gave him the nickname “Waterman,” as he fainted near the technical area following a dramatic quarter-final loss to Ivory Coast.
Chelle later emphasized that the incident was related to a major medical issue.
On the After Afrique podcast, he admitted, “I was feeling faint.”
He revealed that he had been experiencing atrial fibrillation during the event.
“During the preparation for the AFCON, I suffered from atrial fibrillation. My heart was beating at 200 beats per minute all the time.
I was being monitored and given medication, but I experienced dizziness and fainting spells. I spent the entire AFCON like this. After the match, I wanted to regain my breath and was about to pass out.
“The physiotherapist next to me knew I was fainting and put water on my head to keep me awake,” Chelle said.
After the heart surgery after the tournament, the Super Eagles coach stated that his condition has improved and reassured fans about his health, adding, “It’s going very well.”
