Eric Chelle’s future as the head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria has come under fresh scrutiny after a new insider report revealed the former Lens defender sought a major pay rise.
The report has it that despite the Franco-Malian tactician being under contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), he reportedly submitted a 19-point proposal on January 22, 2026, requesting a sharp increase in his monthly earnings.
Sports journalist Shina Oludare, reported the core of the proposal was a “toad-jump” from $50,000 to $130,000 per month, which is meant to cover Chelle’s salary and that of his full technical crew and personal assistant.
As a matter of fact, this actually, contradicts earlier claims that he asked for $100,000. The journalist further revealed that the NFF rejected the proposal, which triggered the events that later linked him with a possible move to Olympique de Marseille.
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Eric Chelle’s salary row with the NFF
Various reports claimed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) deemed Chelle’s demands excessive, especially given existing financial constraints and ongoing debates about coach remuneration in Nigerian football.
It has been made known that the request, which outlined staffing costs and personal support expenses, failed to convince decision-makers, which left the Super Eagles coach dissatisfied and reportedly open to alternative opportunities abroad.
On this note the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reportedly submitted its recommendations for national team coaching appointments to the federation’s Executive Board for final approval.
According to the report, it is claimed that the committee met on Tuesday in Abuja to deliberate on candidates for the vacant coaching positions across Nigeria’s youth national teams. The roles include head coaches for the men’s Under-17 and Under-20 teams — the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles — as well as the women’s Under-17 side, the Flamingos.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) invited qualified and interested coaches to apply for the positions as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s youth development structure. And it was confirmed that the Technical Committee concluded its review process during the meeting and compiled a final list of recommended candidates, which has now been forwarded to the NFF Board.
