Nigeria’s national team coach, Eric Chelle, has opened up about a viral moment from AFCON 2023, where he was doused with water on his head during a match.
In a candid revelation, Chelle explained that he was struggling with a serious health issue at the time.
“I was in the middle of collapsing,” Chelle said. “During the preparation for the tournament, I had an auricular fibrillation. My heart was beating at 200bpm all the time.”
Chelle revealed that he had been experiencing vertigo and fainting spells, but continued to lead Mali through the tournament. “I went through the entire CAN like that,” he said.
The dramatic moment occurred after Mali’s quarter-final loss to Ivory Coast, when Chelle’s physio poured water on his head to revive him.
“After the match, I needed to catch my breath, I almost collapsed. The physio next to me knew I was about to faint and poured water over my head to keep me awake,” he explained.
Chelle’s revelation sheds new light on the viral moment, which was initially met with laughter and memes.
The coach has since become known as the “water man” in African football circles.
Despite the challenges he faced, Chelle made a remarkable recovery, leading Nigeria to bronze success at AFCON 2025.
