Eric Chelle has no intention of walking away from the Super Eagles before his contract expires, a top NFF official has confirmed, Footynaija.com reports.
This comes at a moment of uncertainty around Chelle’s future. The 48-year-old, appointed in January 2025 on a two-year contract running to December 2026, submitted a 19-point renewal proposal to the NFF on January 22 outlining his conditions for an extension.
Central to the proposal is a monthly salary of $130,000, a figure that would cover his own earnings as well as those of his five-man technical staff.
The NFF has indicated a willingness to improve on his current terms but has so far proposed a figure closer to $100,000, leaving a gap that both parties are still working to bridge.
Chelle himself has addressed the situation, telling journalist Osasu Obayiuwana that financial matters have been handed entirely to his agent.
‘Leading the Super Eagles is great for his profile’
The NFF’s position on his immediate future was made plain to SCORENigeria, as reported by the Sun.
“Eric has maintained he will respect his contract with the NFF and has no plans to leave before the contract is up,” a top official told this outlet.
“That’s good because leading the Super Eagles is great for his profile as well. It’s not just anybody who gets a chance to head one of Africa’s top teams.”
The reassurance matters given the names that have been circulating in recent months. Tunisia and Angola have both been linked with interest in Chelle following his work at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, where Nigeria recovered from World Cup playoff heartbreak against DR Congo to claim a third-place finish, beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the bronze medal match.
With AFCON 2027 qualifying beginning in September and the Unity Cup in London next month offering a first look at potential new faces, Chelle’s attention is on the football.
A trip to Nigeria to watch NPFL matches is already confirmed as he looks to widen his selection pool ahead of a busy summer schedule.
