Eric Chelle has moved to calm the storm surrounding his future as head coach of the Super Eagles, insisting that his request for improved pay and working conditions should not be mistaken for a threat to walk away.
Naija News reports that the Franco-Malian tactician has come under scrutiny after details of a document he submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were leaked to the public. In it, Chelle proposed a revision of his monthly salary from $ 50,000 to $ 130,000, a figure he says would also cover the wages of his backroom staff.
Speculation over his position intensified in recent weeks, particularly after he was linked with Olympique de Marseille and reportedly drew interest from countries such as Tunisia and Angola, as well as his former employers, the Mali national football team. The interest followed Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Despite the speculations, Chelle has rejected suggestions that he issued any ultimatum or used Marseille’s interest as leverage.
Speaking on the Histoires de Foot Podcast, he said: “I have never gone to Nigeria to say I was going to leave for Marseille or to renegotiate everything. There is no interview or statement where I said I would go to Marseille or that I was threatening anyone.
“At the moment we’re speaking, of course, I am still the coach of Nigeria. I still have one year left on my contract. In fact, I was in a meeting via video with my technical staff to work on the squad list for the March matches. So yes, I am still the coach of Nigeria.”
The NFF has acknowledged receipt of his 19-point proposal and indicated that the requests are subject to board review and approval.
Chelle explained that the headline figure attached to his proposed salary increase does not tell the full story.
“When you talk about $130,000, first of all it’s not euros, it’s dollars,” he said. “And what people don’t know is that in Africa, with the national teams I’ve worked with, I have to pay my technical staff myself. So all those people have to be paid, and those requests are simply to ensure I have the right conditions to do my job.”
Among the reported demands are provision of a private SUV with chauffeur and security detail, accommodation in a secure area with stable electricity, and a furnished office equipped for tactical analysis.
He is also said to have requested flight tickets for his wife and two children, equipment aligned with his technical specifications, influence in arranging friendly matches and full autonomy in team selection.
The document further outlines a desire for structured access to domestic league matches to aid scouting for the senior side as well as the U23, U20 and U17 teams. Inclusion of his personal assistant within the bonus and allowance framework is also reportedly part of the proposal.
The leak itself appears to have unsettled the coach.
“Today, if I’m being honest, I don’t really know. The first question I ask myself is how this document could have ended up in the media. That’s the question I’m asking myself,” Eric Chelle lamented.
