Shehu Dikko, chairman of the National Sports Commission, has announced that a new contract has been finalised between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle. Dikko announced this on Tuesday during a meeting in Abuja with NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and other federation officials.
The new agreement will include improved remuneration for the Franco-Malian tactician and also have him handling the men’s U-23 squad, with Chelle’s backroom staff also to be paid by the NFF, unlike the previous arrangement in which the coach reportedly paid his crew out of his own pocket.
Dikko said they have also discussed how to build for the future, agreeing that the coach should take care of the U-23 national team. Chelle will be responsible for qualifying the men’s U-23 team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, as Nigeria has failed to qualify for the men’s football event at the Olympics since Rio 2016.
Dikko failed to reveal the duration or the figures of the new deal, but said the coach will be excited about the benchmarks put on the table. Chelle’s initial two-year contract runs out at the end of 2026, and there has been uncertainty surrounding the negotiation of a new deal for a while. The new arrangement is expected to provide stability for the national team as they prepare for upcoming competitions, with the coach now having additional responsibilities beyond the senior team.
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