NSC Confirms New Deal For Eric Chelle

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will remain in charge of Nigeria’s senior national team after reaching an agreement on a new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Dikko also disclosed that the Franco-Malian tactician has been handed additional responsibility for the country’s U-23 national team as part of long-term plans to strengthen the football development pathway.

The development was announced on Tuesday following a meeting between officials of the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation in Abuja.

Chelle’s current two-year contract is due to expire at the end of 2026, but discussions over an improved deal have been ongoing for months following Nigeria’s impressive campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the Super Eagles finished third.

The coach was reported to have requested a monthly salary package of $130,000, which would cover both his remuneration and that of his assistants, among other conditions.

Providing an update after the meeting, Dikko said both parties had successfully reached an agreement on fresh terms.

“We have reached new terms with the coach about his new remuneration. We are also going to take care of his assistants, and there are other benchmarks that we have put on the table, and I’m sure the coach will be very excited about it,” Dikko said.

Although details of the new contract were not disclosed, the NSC chairman indicated that the package reflects the federation’s confidence in the coach and its commitment to providing him with the necessary support to succeed.

Beyond his responsibilities with the Super Eagles, Chelle will now oversee the U-23 national team, popularly known as the Olympic Eagles.

Dikko explained that the decision was taken to ensure continuity between the youth and senior national teams, particularly as a new generation of players emerges.

“With the NFF, we also agreed that the coach will take care of the U-23 national team because we have young players coming into the Super Eagles within that age bracket.

“So, Eric Chelle and his team, plus other people who will support them. The objective is not to give the coach more work but to start building for the future,” he said.

According to Dikko, the arrangement will create a seamless transition for talented players moving from the U-23 setup into the senior national team, ensuring consistency in style, philosophy and player development.

The expanded role comes as Nigeria begins preparations for qualification for the football event of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Eagles have endured a difficult spell in recent years, failing to qualify for the men’s football tournament at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Chelle is expected to lead efforts to reverse that trend while simultaneously managing the Super Eagles.

The new responsibilities place greater expectations on the former Mali coach, who has already earned praise for stabilising the Super Eagles and guiding the team to a third-place finish at the 2025 AFCON.

With Nigeria now looking ahead to future international competitions and youth development programmes, Chelle will be expected to build a sustainable structure capable of producing the next generation of national team stars.