Former Flying Eagles head coach Ladan Isah Bosso, has firmly denied reports suggesting he is eyeing the position of Super Eagles head coach currently occupied by Eric Chelle, describing the rumors as “baseless, disrespectful, and harmful to Nigerian football.”

In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, Coach Bosso clarified his stance following widespread online speculation and social media chatter alleging he was lobbying behind the scenes to replace Chelle.

“I have not at any point expressed interest in replacing Coach Eric Chelle,” Bosso stated. “I know what it feels like to be in the hot seat of national football, and I respect the work Coach Chelle is doing. These rumors are false, malicious, and a distraction we don’t need right now.”

Eric Chelle, who took charge of the Super Eagles earlier this year, has been under scrutiny following mixed results in recent fixtures. However, Bosso warned against turning every poor performance into a witch hunt.

“Coaches need support, not sabotage,” he continued. “The idea that I would scheme to unseat a fellow professional is completely against my values and everything I stand for in this game. Let us focus on supporting the team, not spreading division.”

Bosso, who led the Nigeria U20 team to the quarter-finals of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, is one of the most experienced coaches in the country, with decades of involvement in grassroots and national team development. He reiterated that his current focus remains on talent development and mentoring the next generation of Nigerian players.

Bosso, who rejected the Super Eagles job in 2016 because of the NFF leadership tussle then, said Eric Chelle has been enjoying the full support of Nigeria Football Coaches Association since he assumed the responsibility of coaching the Super Eagles. 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has also described the comment as a rumors, which is unfounded saying that Chelle still enjoys the confidence of the board, despite mounting pressure from sections of the media and fans.