The Mali Football Federation has confirmed that former Eagles centre-back Eric Sékou Chelle is their new national team coach.
The 44-year-old has signed an 18-month contract and his main task will be to try and qualify Mali to the Africa Cup of Nations.
He replaces Mohamed Magassouba was shown the door after failing to qualify for 2022 World Cup.
Chelle has been coach of several lower division clubs in France including Marseille Consolat, Martigues and most recently US Boulogne.
The confirmation came after a series of contradictory press statements about who will take over from Magassouba.
A source at Malia Football Federation told Ducor Sports in Bamako on Friday that the Federation has signed a contract with the former international.
“We signed a short-term contract with Eric Sékou Chelle at the weekend,” the source disclosed.
“The contract will cover the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers period and could be extended if the results at the qualification stage are good.”
The confirmation of Celle’s appointment comes against the backdrop of a series of contradictory statements announcing Winfried Schäfer as the new Mali boss.
Chelle had been linked with the Eagles job on many occasions although he doesn’t have continental pedigree on the list.
The former Lens defender began his coaching career with Marseille Consolat in 2017 and is now charged d 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.
