Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has disclosed that his ultimate career ambition is to become the first African to take charge of Spanish football giants, Real Madrid.
The Malian-born coach made the revelation while speaking on RMC Sport’s After Afrique podcast, which was shared on 𝕏 on Monday. According to Chelle, managing the Madrid-based club would represent the peak of his coaching journey as he continues to grow his profile on the global football scene.
“My dream is to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid,” Chelle said.
Chelle’s reputation has continued to soar following Nigeria’s impressive outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where the Super Eagles finished third. The team recorded a strong tournament, winning all but one of their matches.
During the interview, the former Valenciennes defender also reflected on notable moments from the AFCON campaign, including reported dressing-room issues and tensions involving key players such as Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
He further addressed conversations surrounding the much-publicised “water bottle” incident at the 2023 AFCON, when he was head coach of Mali. The episode, which occurred during a dramatic quarter-final defeat to Ivory Coast, earned him the nickname “Waterman” after he collapsed near the touchline.
Clarifying what happened, Chelle explained that the incident was linked to a serious health challenge.
“I was feeling faint,” he said.
He revealed that he suffered from atrial fibrillation throughout the tournament, explaining that his heart rate was consistently abnormally high.
“During the AFCON preparations, I had atrial fibrillation. My heart was beating at 200 beats per minute all the time,” Chelle disclosed.
“I was under medical supervision and on medication, but I still experienced dizziness and fainting spells. I went through the entire tournament like that. After the match, I needed to regain my breath and nearly passed out.
“The physiotherapist beside me noticed and poured water on my head to keep me conscious.”
Chelle added that he underwent heart surgery after the tournament and assured fans that his health has significantly improved, saying, “It’s going very well.”