Eric Chelle To Be Named New Mali Coach

The Mali Football Federation (Femafoot) is set to appoint former Eagles centre-back Eric Sékou Chelle as new national team head coach, Ducor Sports can reveal.

The development comes few weeks after their immediate former coach Mohamed Magassouba was shown the door after failing to qualify for 2022 World Cup.

The experienced Chelle was expected to hold talks with Femafoot officials this morning upon arrival from Paris.

Chelle has been a free agent since 2021 after parting ways with French D3 side US Boulogne.

The former Lens defender began his coaching career with Marseille Consolat in 2017 before joining Martigues a year later.

The 44-year-old was appointed US Boulogne in May 2021 but just parted ways with the club after seven months following a series of poor results.

If appointed Chelle will be charged to qualify the Eagles to the next Africa Cup of Nations which is expected to be hosted by Ivory Coast in 2023.

Mali will face Congo, Gambia and South Sudan in the Group G of the qualifiers that will be staged on May and will end in March 2023.