Months of uncertainty surrounding Eric Chelle’s future with the Super Eagles have finally been put to rest after Nigerian football authorities reached an agreement on a new contract for the national team coach.
The confirmation came from National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Shehu Dikko, during a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday attended by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau, and other top football officials.
Chelle, whose initial two-year contract was due to expire at the end of 2026, had been engaged in prolonged discussions with the football authorities over a possible extension. The negotiations have now been successfully concluded, paving the way for the Franco-Malian tactician to continue in charge of the three-time African champions.
Under the terms of the new agreement, Chelle will receive an improved salary package. In a major adjustment to the previous arrangement, the NFF will also assume responsibility for the salaries of his backroom staff, who were reportedly being paid directly by the coach.
“I can confirm to you that we have reached a new term with the coach. We are going to increase his money and also take care of his assistants who are helping him. And there are other benchmarks that we have put on the table, and I’m sure the coach will be very excited about it,” Dikko said.
Beyond his duties with the Super Eagles, Chelle has also been handed an expanded role as part of plans to strengthen Nigeria’s football development structure.
According to Dikko, discussions with the coach and the NFF produced an agreement that will see him oversee the national U-23 men’s team as well.
“We have also discussed how we can build for the future. In that aspect, we also agree with the coach and the NFF that the coach should take care of the U-23 national team,” he added.
Although details regarding the duration of the contract and its financial value were not disclosed, the new deal signals the confidence Nigerian football authorities have in Chelle’s leadership.
The former Mali coach was appointed Super Eagles manager in 2025 and enjoyed immediate success, leading Nigeria to a third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later that year.
His new responsibilities will also include guiding the U-23 side in its bid to qualify for the men’s football event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Nigeria has not featured in the competition since the Rio Olympics in 2016, making qualification a major target for the country’s football administrators.
With a renewed mandate and broader responsibilities, Chelle is now expected to play a central role in shaping both the present and future of Nigerian football.
