Eric Chelle Real Madrid ambition revealed as the Super Eagles coach outlines his dream and reflects on AFCON challenges and health scare
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has declared his ambition to one day manage Spanish giants Real Madrid, saying the goal is to become the first African to lead the La Liga club.
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Eric Chelle, the Malian born tactician and former Valenciennes defender, made the revelation in an interview with RMC Sport where Eric Chelle outlined long term coaching aspirations and a determination to reach the summit of European club football.
“My dream is to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid,” Eric Chelle said.
The statement comes after Eric Chelle guided Nigeria to a third place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a performance that raised Eric Chelle’s profile across the continent and sparked discussion about the growing global recognition of African coaches.
During the interview, Eric Chelle reflected on key moments from the 2025 AFCON campaign, including reported dressing room management issues and tensions involving forwards Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
Eric Chelle also addressed the widely discussed water bottle incident during the 2023 AFCON while managing Mali.
The episode occurred during a tense quarter final defeat to Ivory Coast, when Eric Chelle collapsed close to the bench and was later nicknamed “Waterman”.
Speaking on the After Afrique podcast, Eric Chelle explained that the incident was linked to a serious heart condition.
“I was feeling faint,” Eric Chelle said.
Eric Chelle revealed that Eric Chelle had been battling atrial fibrillation throughout the tournament, with the heart beating at an abnormally high rate.
“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, taking medication, but I had dizziness and fainting spells.
I spent the entire AFCON like that. After the match, I needed to catch my breath, I was about to faint.
The physiotherapist next to me knew I was fainting and put water on my head to keep me awake,” Eric Chelle explained on the podcast.
The revelation added a human dimension to the dramatic touchline moment and highlighted the physical strain endured during the tournament.
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For Eric Chelle, however, the focus remains on building a coaching career capable of reaching the highest level in European football, with Real Madrid firmly in sight as the ultimate destination.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
