The Director General of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, in an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa has stated the country is happy with Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle and expects discussions over a new contract to begin shortly.
In an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa, Olopade revealed he has already held talks with Chelle, whose current deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has only a few months left to run.
Dinner meeting and fresh talks planned
Olopade confirmed he recently met Chelle in Abuja and is confident formal negotiations will soon follow.
“I had dinner with him two days ago at my house in Abuja. I am not the NFF President, but we operate with a collaborative approach, and Eric Chelle has become both a brother and a friend.”
That same night, I called the NFF president, and hopefully by Tuesday or Wednesday, we will all sit down together,” Olopade told Footy-Africa.
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AFCON progress fuels optimism
Chelle guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with the Super Eagles praised for their attacking style of play.
Nigeria scored 35 goals and conceded just 13 during this period, performances that have drawn comparisons with some of the country’s most successful eras.
Interest from abroad dismissed
Chelle’s AFCON showing has attracted interest from Tunisia, Gabon and Angola, but Olopade insists the coach is staying put.
“Eric Chelle is not going anywhere. The countries claiming interest in him do not have the kind of superstars that make his job easier,” Olopade said.
“We must not forget that Eric thrived because he had the right equipment and instruments—the quality personnel he used to execute his ideas. It was not just about coaching; it was about the ability he found within the team.”
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Olopade also highlighted the depth within the current squad:
“Today, we have a surplus across all departments. We have depth in defence, surplus in midfield, strength in attack, and even in goalkeeping. Okonkwo of Arsenal and Wrexham is coming—FIFA has cleared him. He is a 21-year-old goalkeeper who is already making a huge name for himself, showcasing talent everywhere.”
Chelle’s impact and tactical shift
Appointed in January 2025 following the exits of Jose Peseiro, Austin Eguavoen and Finidi George, Chelle introduced a 4-4-2 diamond system that transformed Nigeria’s approach.
The Super Eagles scored a team-record 14 goals at a single AFCON, dominated possession in most matches and kept four consecutive clean sheets in the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
They went unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning five matches before draws against Morocco in the semi-finals and Egypt in the third-place play-off, which went to penalties.
Backing the appointment
Olopade says doubts initially surrounded Chelle’s appointment, but he remained convinced it was the right call.
“The first point of understanding starts with the appointment of Eric Chelle as coach. I remember when the NSC, in collaboration with the NFF, decided to bring him in. Some sections of the media and some ex-players questioned the decision. They asked how a Malian could coach Nigeria.
I was convinced we made the right decision. At the time, Eric had scored 75 goals with Mali. I believed that if he could achieve that with a country that did not have players like Osimhen or Lookman—and Akor was not yet known then—he would turn Nigeria into a goal-scoring machine.
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I am glad today that our efforts paid off. I proudly take credit, alongside Mallam Shehu Dikko, for being part of the decision to appoint Eric Chelle, even if we are not being acknowledged today,” he noted.
Bonuses, salaries and behind-the-scenes planning
Issues around unpaid bonuses and entitlements dominated headlines during the tournament, with reports of players threatening to boycott training before matters were resolved.
Olopade believes administrators have been unfairly criticised.
“I also take credit for the fact that the NSC has been responsible for paying the coaches’ salaries, and payments have not failed—except for January, which will be settled next week. This is historic. It has never happened before.”
“When you put all of these together, you will agree with me that the comfort of the coaching crew was prioritised. The planning behind the scenes made it easy for the coaches to work effectively with the players, and I believe that contributed significantly to our success,” he noted.
He also praised the level of government support:
“I boldly state that the funding the Super Eagles and the NFF have received from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been massive—ubiquitous and humongous. That support gives administrators confidence, which we then transfer to the coaches and players, leading to success. And this is not only in football; it cuts across all sports.”
Response to Oliseh criticism
Former Nigeria captain and head coach Sunday Oliseh recently criticised celebrations around a third-place finish, calling it a sign of “mediocrity”, and questioned Victor Osimhen’s conduct during the semi-final defeat by Morocco.
Olopade strongly disagreed.
“I disagree with Oliseh on many of his comments, including his indictment of Osimhen and others. Our superstars of yesterday deserve respect, but they must also take their place as mentors to the younger generation, not denigrate them.
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Initially I did not want to get involved or respond to Oliseh, but I strongly believe that the situation with Victor Osimhen was properly managed and addressed by the game. In addition, Osimhen is the second biggest brand in Nigeria after the Super Eagles. I know exactly what I am saying. If we are branding Nigeria, the Super Eagles are number one, Osimhen is number two, and the Super Falcons are number three—this is my professional opinion as a branding expert.
“Oliseh’s history is written in stone, and nobody can take that away from him. He is a hero. But he must allow the youngsters to make mistakes and learn, just as he did. He should remember that Onigbinde did not forgive him before the World Cup, and many of us supported him then. He also made mistakes that caused disunity and discouraged players, yet he was forgiven by a grateful nation. Osimhen, Lookman, Akor, Bassey, Ekong—these are heroes of our country today, and we must recognise and respect them as such,” he concluded.
