Eric Chelle’s Extension Requests: Has He Earned Them and Can the NFF Afford It?

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On January 16, 2026, the captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Wilfred Ndidi, said at the pre-match press conference for the third-place game between Nigeria and Egypt at AFCON 2025, in Pidgin, “Make we no dey change coach anyhow, make we keep Eric Chelle.”

In English, he meant that the culture of replacing coaches at short intervals should stop, and that Eric Chelle should continue as Nigeria’s coach.

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Some criticised why he openly made such a statement, others felt it was a good thing to say, but what matters is that it was said.

Eric Chelle himself, on a couple of occasions during AFCON 2025 press conferences, was asked whether he would like to continue as coach of the team and what his contract situation looked like. He consistently downplayed those questions and maintained that the focus was on the competition. However, he did mention that he had a family, and that he would leave AFCON 2025 with 28 brothers, the players.

When you link both situations together, it suggests that things are working well.

The captain openly stating that he wants the coach to stay, and the coach speaking about the love and bond he has built with the players, that is significant.

If that does not show progress, then Nigeria’s football at AFCON 2025 certainly did. It was a beauty to behold. Not losing any game in open play is testament to that, although many would argue that it fell short of the finish Nigeria achieved at AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire.

Some fans have questioned whether Chelle should remain as coach, while a large portion of Nigerians hope he continues with the team.

All that conversation may be nearing a point where a decision will finally be made, one way or the other.

Last week, veteran journalist Shina Oludare broke the news on social media about Eric Chelle’s 19-point contract request.

Conversations went in every direction. Some believe the demands are reasonable, others question whether the Super Eagles boss is out of touch with the realities of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

At the heart of the debate is this, are these conditions legitimate demands aimed at improving performance, or a luxury list that many believe the federation cannot, and perhaps should not, meet?

Below is the full list of Eric Chelle’s 19-point demands.

At the centre of it is a proposed increase in his monthly remuneration, from a reported $50,000 to $130,000, a figure that would cover not only Chelle but his entire technical crew and personal assistant.

As seen in the image above, the list goes beyond salary. It seeks to address infrastructure, logistics, technical authority, and what could be interpreted as a blueprint for long-term reform within Nigerian football.

Éric Chelle took over the Super Eagles in January 2025 with a clear mandate, to return Nigeria to the summit of African football and secure qualification for the World Cup.

The team’s third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and failure to qualify for the World Cup mean he has probably not fully passed that test. However, reaching the semi-final of the AFCON can still be considered a significant achievement and a mark in his favour.

So, the question of whether he has earned the right to make such demands may not be entirely misplaced.

Beyond questions of performance, the financial implications of Chelle’s demands have raised eyebrows.

Many see the list as tone deaf, coming from a federation already grappling with tight budget constraints. The proposed $130,000 monthly salary, roughly a 160% increase on his current pay, has become a lightning rod for criticism. While the figure is meant to cover his technical staff and personal assistant, which gives it some context, the sum remains eye catching given the federation’s finances.

Realistically, the NFF cannot meet that figure on its own. Perhaps the National Sports Commission could provide support, but if the federation were to consider these conditions seriously, the $130,000 salary would almost certainly need to be renegotiated.

Also, when you look closely at certain clauses, such as covering flight tickets for his wife and children, and a few other personal provisions, it is easy to see why some feel Chelle may be stretching the line.

In negotiations, it is normal to ask for terms that reflect your ideal conditions. You position strongly, you leave room to adjust. That is how contracts are shaped.

But in this case, within the economic reality of Nigerian football, some of those requests risk feeling excessive.

Éric Chelle signed with a new agency last week, Wilders Sport. That development inevitably adds another layer to the conversation around the 19 point proposal, which in the circulated document is linked to Gzedsports. Whether those demands are now reconsidered, reshaped, or firmly maintained remains to be seen.

Some have gone further, suggesting the switch in representation could signal ambition beyond his current post, perhaps positioning himself for a bigger role elsewhere. In football, agency moves are rarely random, and speculation tends to fill any silence.

Whatever the truth may be, clarity will arrive soon enough. In a matter of weeks, the direction will become clearer, and Nigerians will understand exactly where things stand.

For now, Chelle remains the head coach of the Nigeria national football team.