Super Eagles: Eric Chelle’s 19-point demands to NFF before failed Marseille move

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle quietly applied for the vacant managerial position at Olympique Marseille despite being under contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Afrik-Foot reports.

Chelle’s decision to make a move for the Marseille role followed the NFF’s rejection of a detailed proposal submitted by the Malian tactician last month.

Nigerian journalist Shina Oludare revealed that Chelle presented a comprehensive 19-point contract extension document to the NFF on January 22, 2026, outlining structural, financial and operational demands aimed at reshaping the Super Eagles’ technical setup.

Central to the proposal was a request to increase his monthly salary from $50,000 to $130,000, significantly higher than the widely reported $100,000 figure. The coach insisted the new amount was not purely personal income but designed to cover salaries for his entire technical crew and his personal assistant.

INSIDER REPORT: Following my in-depth investigation and thorough fact-checking, as promised, I present Coach Eric Chelle’s 19-point conditions for a contract extension, formally submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on January 22, 2026. The document is published in… pic.twitter.com/WdZvJmot0x

— Shina Oludare 🇳🇬 (@sportingshina) February 19, 2026

The rejection of key elements of the proposal reportedly strained relations between both parties and prompted Chelle to explore opportunities abroad.

In preparation for a potential return to European management, he ended his professional relationship with long-time associate and agent Sidibe Abraham Brehima. Sidibe helped secure Chelle’s previous coaching roles with Nigeria and Mali after his dismissal by Boulogne.

Chelle subsequently signed with the agency Wilders Sport in an effort to strengthen his candidacy for the Marseille job.

However, the French club ultimately decided his managerial profile did not match their long-term project and appointed former Senegal international Habib Beye as head coach on Wednesday evening.

Eric Chelle vs NFF: The 19-point proposal that triggered the fallout

The document submitted to the NFF provides rare insight into Chelle’s vision for professionalising Nigeria’s national team structure.

Among the demands were improved living and working conditions, including a private SUV with chauffeur and security, a secure residence with uninterrupted electricity supply, a furnished analysis office equipped with a projector, internet access and logistical support such as GPS provision.

The proposal also focused heavily on technical autonomy and football development. Chelle requested full authority over friendly match selection based on opponents, structured camping programmes, and the freedom to travel globally to monitor foreign-based Nigerian players. He additionally sought regular scouting access to domestic league matches to strengthen integration across the senior team and youth levels.

Perhaps most sensitive was his insistence on non-interference in team selection, alongside guaranteed contracts for his backroom staff and strict salary payment deadlines before the 30th of every month.

The salary request of $130,000 monthly, explicitly stated to include his entire staff and personal assistant, formed Point 18 of the proposal, while the final item called for monthly coordination meetings involving all national-team coaches to improve technical cohesion.

Eric Chelle, appointed Nigeria coach in January 2025 on a two-year deal, initially enjoyed strong results. He guided the Super Eagles to victory at the Unity Cup invitational tournament in London shortly after taking charge and later led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Those achievements strengthened his position but also appear to have emboldened his push for structural reforms, reforms that ultimately failed to gain NFF approval and indirectly opened the door to his brief pursuit of the Marseille job.

Chelle remains Nigeria’s head coach and will be in charge of the Super Eagles for the international friendly games against Jordan and Iran next month.