"It's a well deserved move" - Malian forward Lassine Sinayoko confident of Eric Chelle's Super Eagles success

Malian forward Lassine Sinayoko has given his blessings to his former NT gaffer Eric Sekou Chelle who was announced as the Super Eagles head coach earlier this month ahead of the 2025 AFCON which is set to take center stage in Morocco, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The AJ Auxerre who played a crucial role in Mali's incredible run to the quarter-finals in the AFCON last time out lauded the personality of the newly appointed Super Eagles gaffer who gave him a recall back to the national team after two years ouster.

Sinayoko who went on to lead the lines for Mali, scoring three goals in the process in an exclusive interview by Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) for RFI stated; "I am very happy for him because before being a good coach, he is a good person. He had the courage to put me in the starting line-up in a competition as important as the CAN in front of players who play in more exclusive clubs, in the Champions League.

"What is happening to him is deserved. I heard a lot of people say that the elimination from the CAN was because of his substitutions, etc. For me, it has nothing to do with it. In the previous match against Burkina, he made the same changes and that went very well. Nobody said anything. There always has to be a scapegoat", he buttressed.

Sekou has a daunting task at hand with the Super Eagles, the quest to win the AFCON and also secure a spot at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

By Olaleye Oluwadamilola