Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier rivals Nigeria have named former Mali coach Eric Chelle as the new boss of the Super Eagles.

Chelle was in charge of Mali when they beat Bafana 2-0 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, though Bafana had the last laugh when they went on to finish third and the west Africans were dumped out by the hosts in the quarter-finals.

The 47-year-old’s first games in charge will be World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda (away) and Zimbabwe (home) in March.

Chelle has some work to do, Nigeria have three points from their opening four World Cup qualifiers and trail the trio of South Africa, Rwanda and Benin, who lead the table with seven points.

Only the top side in each six-team pool advances automatically to the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, while the four best-placed runners-up enter into a difficult continental play-off system.