Related Post
Nigeria’s national team future has become the subject of intense debate after strong criticism emerged over reported contract demands from Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, Footynaija reports.
Former Gombe State FA chairman Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe has warned authorities not to accept what he considers excessive financial terms from Chelle.
Reports circulating this week claimed Chelle presented 19 conditions to remain in charge of the Nigeria national football team, including a proposed salary rise from €50,000 to €130,000 per month.
ERIC CHELLE’s 19 conditions to the NFF according to @sportingshina
— Official54fx (@54footballx) February 19, 2026
What are your thoughts on the requests?
Fair or overboard? #54footballx pic.twitter.com/i9JvUH7Sf7
The controversy arrives shortly after Nigeria’s third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the team impressed neutrals with attacking football and finished as the tournament’s highest scorers. Despite missing the final on penalties against the hosts, both the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Commission had indicated interest in extending Chelle’s stay.
Gara-Gombe, however, believes the momentum created by recent results should not force Nigeria into financial concessions.
“I don’t think it is okay,” Gara-Gombe told The Guardian. “This man just came to Nigeria to boost his CV. I said it before that Super Eagles is too big for Chelle.
“The Super Eagles raised Chelle to the global stage not him raising the team, and he now wants to ‘blackmail’ us.
“With the players Nigeria have, we are even the ones to ask a coach like Eric Chelle to pay us ‘privileged fees’.”
Chelle was recently linked with the vacant head coach role at Olympique Marseille before the club appointed former Senegal international Habib Beye.
Brila Media OATs on today’s Hard Tackle segment weigh in on reports that Eric Chelle has presented a 19-point list of conditions to the Nigeria Football Federation for his contract extension as Super Eagles head coach. ⚽🇳🇬
— Brila Media (@Brilafm889) February 20, 2026
The reported demands include a $130,000 monthly salary,… pic.twitter.com/JTkO8P7ZcD
Gara-Gombe believes Chelle engineered those reports to force NFF’s hand during contract negotiations.
“It is so obvious now that Chelle just created a phantom story around Olympique Marseilles that they were after his service, and a few days after, his ridiculous demands came. We are not fools. I read the demands, they are ridiculous.
“While at the AFCON in Morocco, Chelle started his phantom story that Algeria wanted his services and the Olympique Marseilles story followed. If he wants to go, let him go. I have not seen any impact he made on the Super Eagles.”
Gara-Gombe added: “Chelle is just lucky we are tip toeing and winning games because of the players’ brilliance, not because of his impact.
“We have polished him as a coach. We have turned him into reckoning and now he wants to blackmail us. If we retain this man for this amount, Nigeria will regret it.”
Chelle’s dream job is to one day coach Real Madrid but the Malian tactician has repeatedly voiced his appreciation for the chance to manage the Super Eagles.
