Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, has warned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), declaring that any attempt to sack him before the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa must come with full compensation for the remainder of his contract.
Chelle, speaking to a journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana, admitted he was aware of growing rumours that the NFF is plotting to replace him.
He insisted that while sackings are part of football, he would not walk away without being paid what he is owed.
“I have heard a lot of stories about them wanting to sack me and replace me with someone else. I know quite well that I can be fired after one match. This is life in football. But if they decide to do that, they must be prepared to pay up the remainder of my contract,” Chelle stated.
The Franco-Malian tactician, who previously managed Mali, said he did not take the Nigeria job for financial gain but for the prestige and challenge it presents.
“When I came to Nigeria, I didn’t come here because of money. I was earning more in my last job. I came here because this is a very big team and I want to prove something, to achieve something. I came here for the challenge. Nothing has changed about that,” he explained.
Chelle also expressed frustration over his strained relationship with the NFF hierarchy, revealing he has had limited interaction with the Federation’s top brass since his appointment.
“I have not had very much contact with the NFF President and the General Secretary since I took charge of the team. We met at the very beginning, of course, and a few times afterwards. But I have been alone, largely, as I go on with doing my job,” he lamented.
The coach’s comments come just days before Nigeria faces South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a crucial World Cup qualifier — a fixture that could determine both the Super Eagles’ momentum in the campaign and Chelle’s future in the dugout.
Insiders within Nigerian football circles suggest that the NFF is under mounting pressure from fans and stakeholders over the team’s inconsistent performances, fuelling speculations of Chelle’s possible dismissal.
But with Chelle’s firm stance, the Federation may now face a tough financial decision: either back their coach through a decisive qualifier or risk triggering a contractual payout that could deepen the body’s already strained finances.
