The Nigeria Football Federation has rejected speculation about Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle’s future with the national team, insisting the Franco-Malian tactician remains fully committed to his role despite reported interest from other countries.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau said Chelle is bound by a valid contract with one year remaining and emphasized that any potential suitors would need to wait until that agreement expires before approaching the coach. “We still have a one-year contract with Eric, and therefore whatever interest anybody will show on him, he has to wait until his contract expires,” Gusau said in an interview shared by the Super Eagles’ media team.
The clarification comes amid unconfirmed reports linking Chelle with national team positions elsewhere, though the NFF president did not identify specific countries or federations allegedly expressing interest. Gusau said the federation wants to shield Chelle from distractions and preserve momentum built under his leadership. He indicated that the coach is satisfied working with Nigeria and that the federation values the stability he has brought to the program. “We don’t want to bring some distraction on him, because we quite well understand that he enjoys working with Nigeria,” Gusau stated.
The NFF chief dismissed suggestions that Chelle’s career decisions should be driven primarily by financial incentives or the lure of short-term success with other teams.
“It’s not about a team is interested in you, and it’s not about because he has gotten the results with the Super Eagles. So if you go to the other team, despite the fact that they are going to give him more money, he’s going to get the results. That’s not the issue,” Gusau said. He argued that the critical factor for any coach is whether the available resources and talent pool can support their ambitions and career objectives.
“The issue is that do they have the materials for him to work with, to achieve what he wants to achieve. The dream of every single coach is to make sure that he achieves success, especially on higher tournaments,” the NFF president explained.
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Gusau contended that professional fulfillment should take precedence over salary considerations when coaches evaluate opportunities. “When you are saying that I want the coach, we are going to look for the coach to come and we are going to pay him a certain amount of money, it’s not the issue of the money, but will he achieve what he wants to achieve in his career? Or is he just going there for the money?” he asked.
According to Gusau, Chelle believes the Super Eagles offer the best platform for him to realize his coaching ambitions, particularly in continental competitions. “I know Coach Eric believes in Super Eagles, and he believes that he can achieve whatever he wants to achieve in his career, when it comes to coaching, preparation, especially with the national team within the African continent,” the federation president said. He added that Chelle has expressed confidence in his ability to fulfill his professional goals with Nigeria’s national team. “He has so much belief in the Super Eagles, and he has every confidence that he can achieve all his dreams with the Super Eagles. So that’s the key thing that I believe in, and I know we discussed it several times with him,” Gusau stated.
Chelle took charge of the Super Eagles in January 2025 following the departure of Finidi George. The former Mali international defender previously coached the Malian national team and had stints with clubs in France and North Africa before accepting the Nigeria assignment.
His appointment came during a transitional period for Nigerian football as the federation sought to rebuild the team following disappointing performances in World Cup qualifying and the Africa Cup of Nations. Since assuming the role, Chelle has overseen several competitive fixtures, though the NFF president’s reference to “results” suggests the coach has met performance expectations during his tenure.
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The Super Eagles have historically been one of Africa’s strongest national teams, with three AFCON titles and multiple World Cup appearances. However, the team has experienced periods of instability in recent years, with frequent coaching changes and inconsistent results in major competitions.
Gusau’s emphasis on contractual obligations and the coach’s professional satisfaction suggests the federation is working to establish continuity and avoid the coaching carousel that has characterized Nigerian football in the past. The NFF president did not specify whether the federation has initiated discussions about extending Chelle’s contract beyond the current one-year term or whether performance benchmarks have been established for any potential renewal. His comments also did not address reports about the nature or source of external interest in Chelle, leaving unclear whether approaches have been formal or merely speculative.
However, Gusau’s public statements appear designed to close down speculation and signal that the NFF considers Chelle’s position secure for the remainder of his contract period.
