Eric Chelle salary demands spark debate as Super Eagles coach denies threatening the NFF and insists he remains committed to Nigeria

Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Chelle has dismissed claims that he is threatening to quit his role with the Nigeria Football Federation over new contract terms, insisting that his proposed salary review is intended to improve his working conditions rather than issue an ultimatum.

Also read: NFF Confirms Eric Chelle Will Honour Super Eagles Contract

Eric Chelle made the clarification during an appearance on the Histoires de Foot Podcast, following the leak of a document in which he reportedly tabled 19 demands before the NFF.

Central to the proposals is an increase in his monthly pay from 50,000 dollars to 130,000 dollars, a figure he said would also cover the salaries of his technical staff.

Eric Chelle salary demands have drawn scrutiny in recent days, particularly after reports linked the Franco-Malian coach with French side Olympique de Marseille.

He was also reportedly on the radar of Tunisia, Angola and his former employers, Mali, following Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

However, Eric Chelle stressed that he had never threatened to leave Nigeria.

“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,” Eric Chelle said.

The coach confirmed that he remains under contract for another year and is actively preparing for upcoming fixtures.

“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,” Eric Chelle added.

Addressing the controversy surrounding Eric Chelle salary demands, the coach explained that, unlike in many European setups, he is responsible for paying his backroom staff from his wages when managing African national teams.

“When you talk about 130,000 dollars, first of all it’s not euros, it’s dollars. 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,” he said.

Among the reported requests are a private sport utility vehicle with security detail, accommodation in a secure area with stable electricity, a furnished office equipped for tactical analysis, flight tickets for his immediate family, and greater autonomy in team selection and friendly match arrangements.

The coach is also said to be seeking structured access to domestic league matches to scout talent for the senior side and age-grade teams.

The NFF has indicated that the proposals remain subject to review and approval by its board.

Eric Chelle expressed surprise at how the confidential document entered the public domain, describing the leak as troubling.

“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,” he said.

He acknowledged that his agency approached Marseille when the club was searching for a manager but maintained that he had no direct contact.

“My agents decided to approach certain clubs in Europe, particularly in France. At that time, OM was looking for a coach. My agency contacted the club to propose me. We didn’t do anything more than that,” Eric Chelle said.

Also read: Eric Chelle Seeks Controversial NFF Pay Rise

Attention now turns to the forthcoming international window, with Nigeria scheduled to face Iran, Jordan and Costa Rica in a four-nation tournament in Amman. Eric Chelle is expected to announce his squad in the coming days as preparations intensify.