Eric Chelle Explains $130,000 Salary Proposal, Reaffirms Loyalty to Super Eagles

Eric Chelle Explains $130,000 Salary Proposal, Reaffirms Loyalty to Super Eagles

Head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, has defended his request for an upward review of his salary, stressing that the proposal is meant to enhance his working conditions and technical efficiency, not to signal an intention to leave his role with the Nigeria Football Federation.

The clarification follows public reactions to a leaked document in which Chelle proposed new contractual terms, including an adjustment of his monthly salary from $50,000 to $130,000. The Franco-Malian tactician explained that the figure is not purely for personal remuneration but is designed to accommodate the cost of running his entire technical and backroom staff, which he is contractually obligated to fund.

According to Chelle, the structure of coaching national teams in Africa differs significantly from that of Europe, as head coaches are often responsible for paying their assistants directly. He said the proposed increase is necessary to maintain professional standards and ensure efficiency within the Super Eagles setup.

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“When people talk about $130,000, they forget that it’s not just for me. With African national teams I’ve worked with, I have to pay my technical staff myself. These requests are simply to give me the right conditions to do my job properly,” he said.

The salary adjustment forms part of 19 formal requests submitted to the NFF on January 22, which the federation has confirmed are currently under review by its executive board. The discussions are taking place amid talks surrounding a possible contract extension, although no final decision has been announced.

Chelle also dismissed speculation linking him to Olympique Marseille, as well as claims that he issued an ultimatum to the NFF after Nigeria finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Speaking on the Histoires de Foot Podcast, he insisted that he never threatened to resign or used interest from Europe as leverage.

“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 resign or threaten anyone,” he said. Chelle added that he still has one year left on his contract and remains fully engaged with his responsibilities, including ongoing meetings with his technical crew to prepare for upcoming fixtures.

While admitting that his agents made exploratory contact with Marseille when the French club was in search of a new coach, Chelle said there was no direct engagement between himself and the club. He explained that the situation was exaggerated by social media speculation and insisted he never authorised any public communication suggesting an imminent move.

Beyond salary, the coach’s 19 requests reportedly include logistical, security, and technical provisions aimed at improving team performance. These include a private SUV with a driver and security detail, accommodation in a secure neighbourhood with stable electricity, a fully furnished office with a projector for tactical sessions, autonomy over squad selection, and input in arranging international friendly matches.

Other reported requests include structured access to domestic league fixtures for scouting across the senior team and age-grade sides, inclusion of his personal assistant in the bonus structure, provision of flight tickets for his wife and two children, and access to modern technical equipment that meets his coaching standards.

Chelle said he was particularly troubled by how the confidential document entered the public domain, noting that he is still trying to understand how internal correspondence was leaked to the media.

Despite the controversy, the Super Eagles coach insisted that his attention remains firmly on football matters. He is expected to unveil his squad for the next international window, where Nigeria will participate in a four-nation invitational tournament in Amman, facing Iran national football team, Jordan national football team, and Costa Rica national football team.

The NFF has maintained that it is committed to stability within the Super Eagles technical crew, assuring stakeholders that Chelle’s proposals will be carefully reviewed in line with the federation’s long-term objectives.

Eric Chelle Explains $130,000 Salary Proposal, Reaffirms Loyalty to Super Eagles