Nigeria’s Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has revealed that his ultimate ambition is to become the first African to manage Spanish giants Real Madrid, a goal he described as a defining moment he hopes to achieve in his coaching career.
The Malian-born tactician shared the ambition while discussing his future plans and desire to reach the very top of European club football. Speaking on RMC Sport’s *After Afrique* podcast in an interview posted on X on Monday, the former Valenciennes player said managing Real Madrid remains his lifelong dream as he continues to build his reputation on the international stage.
“My dream is to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid,” Chelle said.
Chelle recently led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a campaign widely regarded as successful. The Super Eagles won all but one of their matches, a run that significantly boosted Chelle’s profile and earned praise from observers who see his ambition as a sign of the growing global recognition of African coaches.
During the interview, Chelle also reflected on key moments from the tournament, including squad management challenges and reported tensions involving Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
He further revisited the widely discussed “water bottle” incident at the 2023 AFCON with Mali, where he collapsed near the technical area during a dramatic quarter-final loss to Ivory Coast, earning him the nickname “Waterman.” Chelle later explained that the incident was linked to a serious health condition.
“I was feeling faint,” he said, revealing that he suffered from atrial fibrillation throughout the tournament. According to him, his heart rate reached nearly 200 beats per minute, causing dizziness and fainting spells despite being on medication and under medical supervision.
“After the match, I needed to catch my breath and was about to faint. The physiotherapist next to me knew what was happening and poured water on my head to keep me awake,” he explained.
Chelle added that he underwent heart surgery after the tournament and reassured fans about his health, saying his condition has improved significantly and that “it’s going very well.”
