Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reached an agreement on a new and improved contract for Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, with the Franco-Malian tactician also handed the responsibility for the country’s U-23 national team.
The development was confirmed by National Sports Commission chairman, Shehu Dikko, after a strategic meeting involving officials of the NSC and the NFF in Abuja.
The announcement puts an end to months of speculation surrounding Chelle’s future, as his initial two-year contract was due to expire at the end of 2026. Negotiations over improved terms had been ongoing following his first full year in charge of the Super Eagles.
Dikko revealed that both parties had successfully agreed on fresh terms that include enhanced remuneration, improved support for the coaching crew and performance-based benchmarks aimed at strengthening the national team’s long-term objectives.
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Improved Package and Greater Support
Speaking after the meeting, Dikko explained that the revised agreement would not only increase Chelle’s earnings but would also address the welfare of his backroom staff.
According to him, the NFF will now take direct responsibility for the remuneration of the coach’s assistants, a move expected to ease operational challenges within the technical crew.
“We have reached new terms with the coach about his new remuneration. We are also going to take care of his assistants, and there are other benchmarks that we have put on the table,” Dikko said.
Although details of the financial package and the duration of the new contract were not disclosed, the agreement signals strong confidence in Chelle’s leadership despite mixed results during his tenure.
The former Mali coach guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a performance that helped stabilise the team after a difficult period. Reports had previously suggested that Chelle sought an improved salary package that would also cover expenses related to his technical team.
New Responsibility with the Olympic Eagles
Beyond his role with the Super Eagles, Chelle has now been tasked with overseeing the Olympic Eagles as Nigeria begins preparations for the men’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Dikko said the decision was designed to create continuity between the U-23 side and the senior national team. Several promising young players currently within the Super Eagles setup fall within the Olympic age bracket, making the transition between both teams easier under one technical leadership structure.
According to him, the objective is not to increase the coach’s workload unnecessarily, but to establish a clear pathway for emerging talents who could become future Super Eagles regulars.
The move places significant responsibility on Chelle, who will now be expected to rebuild Nigeria’s U-23 programme after consecutive failures to qualify for the men’s football events at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
Focus on the Future of Nigerian Football
The expanded role reflects a broader effort by Nigerian football authorities to create a more unified development system across the national teams.
With the Super Eagles looking to remain competitive on the global stage and the Olympic Eagles seeking a return to the Olympics for the first time since Rio 2016, Chelle’s new mandate represents a major vote of confidence in his ability to shape the future of Nigerian football.
The coming years will now test whether the coach can deliver success at both senior and youth levels while helping to build a stronger pipeline of talent for the country.
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