Eric Chelle: Why Super Eagles coach is yet to sign his new $75,000 contract

Eric Chelle and the Nigeria Football Federation are yet to finalise the terms of the Super Eagles head coach’s contract extension deal.

Chelle became the first non-Nigerian African coach to handle the Super Eagles when he was appointed in January 2025. The Franco-Malian tactician agreed to a one-year deal at the time, with the NFF holding the option to extend the agreement by another year.

There are only three months left on that arrangement, even if both parties have shown willingness to continue working together.

Earlier in the year, the NFF, with the support of the National Sports Commission, worked out a new improved contract for Chelle, a deal that could make him the highest-paid Super Eagles coach in history.

Still, nothing has been signed yet as several financial elements of the deal weds to be smoothened out.

Eric Chelle contract frustration

One of the key reasons delaying the deal is the uncertainty over the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The NFF waved goodbye to its president Ibrahim Gusau and his board in August, after they resigned their positions on the back of a groundswell of national disenchantment over recent dismal performances of the national teams.

It is a move that has complicated efforts to formalise the Eric Chelle agreement.

However, Eric Chelle is now reportedly frustrated by delays in signing his proposed new $75,000-a-month contract as

According to a report by The Guardian Nigeria, the Super Eagles coach is yet to sign the contractual papers and is waiting for the next step in the process.

Chelle is said to be concerned that the NFF/NSC has yet to invite him to complete the formalities required to make the new deal official.

The NFF’s affairs is currently being directed by interim General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme. It is unclear whether a new NFF board would be constituted before Chelle’s contract becomes a done deal.

The 48-year-old manager would love clarity on the matter before November when he has to oversee the activities of the Super Eagles and the Olympics Eagles.

Part of the proposed agreement added on Chelle the responsibility of guiding Nigeria’s under-23 team towards qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

While the coach is confident that there would be no breach in the gentleman agreement he had with the NFF, he still is keen to have the contract signed before Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania.

The Super Eagles will host Tanzania in Uyo on November 11 before travelling for the return fixture four days later. The matches are important to the Super Eagles’ campaign, particularly after their 3-0 defeat in Guinea-Bissau.

Chelle, who guided Nigeria to a bronze medal at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, is under pressure to guide the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2027 AFCON.