Nigeria’s Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are unlikely to approve Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle’s request for a new monthly salary of $130,000, a source has informed Footy-Africa.
The governing bodies have been in discussions with Chelle over a contract extension following Nigeria’s impressive performance at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Chelle, who was appointed in 2025, has 10 months remaining on his current deal. However, negotiations reportedly took a dramatic turn after the former Mali head coach submitted a 19-point proposal before committing to a new contract.
According to reports, the proposal — submitted on 22 January — is headlined by a request to increase his monthly salary from $50,000 to $130,000, a figure said to include the wages of his backroom staff.
While the request is subject to review, a source close to the Sports Commission described it as excessive.
“The $130,000 salary request is outrageous and it is dead on arrival,” the source exclusively told Footy-Africa.
NFF yet to respond to reported Chelle’s new demands amid contract negotiations
The source added that the NSC and NFF are prepared to offer Chelle an improved deal, but not at the level requested:
“They will definitely offer above his current salary and the next offer for the manager could be between $80,000 and $100,000 and obviously it can’t be above $100,000.”
It is understood that Nigeria are keen to retain Chelle but are unwilling to exceed their financial limits.
Former Nigeria international Godwin Okpara believes the coach’s demands are excessive and suggested he should be allowed to leave when his contract expires.
“What he’s asking for is too much. I don’t think he worth that amount of salary. $130,000 salary,” Okpara told Footy-Africa. “He’s a decent manager but we know that the Nigerian squad is one of the best in Africa if not the world.”
“The players made his job easier and maybe he should go elsewhere and let’s see what’s going to happen. Because we saw him with Mali and the club he managed in Algeria.”
NSC boss Olopade confirms Chelle’s extension talks, defends Osimhen
The former Paris St-Germain defender also criticised Chelle for reportedly expressing interest in the Marseille job while still under contract with Nigeria.
“I feel he’s taking advantage of the country and it is very wrong and disrespectful to hold offer himself to Marseille while still under contract with the NFF.
It could be a strategy to put the NFF under pressure or maybe he wanted to go and probably looking for excuses,” Okpara concluded.
