Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle has addressed ongoing discussions surrounding his contract negotiations with the NFF and reported tensions.
Speaking on PodcastHDF, Chelle explained how discussions began shortly after Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign.
“At the end of the match against Egypt, before an interview with Canal+, I went for an interview, and then there is the Minister of Sports and the Director of Customs, who came to congratulate me.
“They tell me, Eric after the match, you are in Nigeria, we have to discuss your contract.”
Chelle clarified reports about the financial figures being discussed, particularly the widely mentioned $130,000 salary.
“To get to the numbers, when you talk to me about 130,000, it’s not euros, it’s dollars. 130,000 dollars.”
He further revealed that the proposed salary would not solely cover his personal earnings, as he is responsible for paying his technical staff from the same amount.
“What people don’t know is that in Africa, in the national team where I was, I have to pay my staff.
“So, in the 130,000 dollars offered, potentially, if of course, those numbers are confirmed, you have to pay your staff with all that behind? Yes, we are five.”
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Chelle detailed the composition of his team:
“I’m talking to you about my assistant, my first assistant, my physical trainer, my goalkeeper coach, and my personal assistant… So, all these people, well, you have to pay them. You have to pay them.”
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He also addressed the immense pressure that comes with managing a nation of Nigeria’s size.
“There are times when the pressure is strong, when there is a coach of a nation of 250 million inhabitants. I put a structure in place around me that will allow me to manage this pressure.”
On reported additional demands including flight tickets for his family Chelle insisted such requests are standard in international football negotiations.
“When I ask for plane tickets for my family, all the selectors ask for plane tickets, because I want to live in Nigeria, so I need my family to come.
“It’s neither more nor less demands to be in good conditions to do my job.”
He confirmed that formal documentation had been submitted as part of the negotiation process.
“There’s a letter that was sent to the Federation. The person who was mandated to negotiate with Nigeria since I arrived, since the Africa Cup, is still in Nigeria.”
Despite speculation, Chelle maintained that he remains committed to his role.
“Today, once again, as I told you, I am a Nigerian selector.
“So, I don’t know maybe there’s a campaign of denigration, maybe the Nigerians don’t dare to tell me that they don’t want me to be coach anymore or not, well, I don’t know.”
It is unclear if Eric Chelle and the NFF will still reach an agreement on a contract extension as tensions between both parties is evident over financial demands.
