Why Foreign Offers Won’t Lure Chelle Away - NFF President Reveals

Why Foreign Offers Won’t Lure Chelle Away - NFF President Reveals 

By Niyi Busari 

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has dismissed speculation that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle could be tempted away by interest from other African national teams, insisting that Nigeria’s wealth of footballing talent remains a key factor in the coach’s commitment, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Chelle, who guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, has attracted attention following the tournament despite falling short of delivering a fourth continental title. However, his performances earned widespread backing from players and fans, reinforcing the NFF’s decision to retain him as head coach.

In the weeks after the AFCON, reports emerged linking the Franco-Malian tactician with several national teams, including Tunisia, Guinea, Angola, and his former side Mali. Tunisian football authorities are believed to have made preliminary contact and are reportedly prepared to offer a salary in the region of $100,000 per month—significantly higher than his current earnings.

However, Gusau has reiterated that Chelle remains under contract and fully committed to the Super Eagles.

“We still have a one-year contract with Eric, and whatever interest anyone shows in him will have to wait until his contract expires,” Gusau said on Tuesday.

“It’s not just about offering him more money. Even if they are willing to pay double, do they have the quality of players and the depth of talent Nigeria has for him to achieve the results he wants?” he added.

Gusau further stressed that Chelle enjoys working with Nigeria’s player pool and believes the coach sees long-term potential with the Super Eagles.

“We understand that he enjoys working with Nigeria, and I know he believes he can achieve his dreams in Africa with us. He has strong belief in the Super Eagles,” Gusau said.

Chelle has also publicly expressed his desire to remain in the role, describing the Super Eagles job as important to his career ambitions. He has previously spoken of his long-term goal of building a coaching profile that could one day see him become the first African to manage Real Madrid.

“I have always been a fan of the team, and this job is very important to me,” Chelle said during the AFCON. “I focus on doing my job, and after every tournament we sit with the NFF to decide the next steps. If nobody tells me to stop, then I am here.”

The former Mali coach was appointed by the NFF in January 2025 on a two-year contract and officially took charge in March 2025. He inherited the team during the latter stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a campaign that ultimately ended in disappointment as Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament for a second consecutive time.

Since taking charge, Chelle has overseen 18 competitive matches, recording 12 wins and six draws. Two of those draws ended in penalty shoot-out defeats, including losses to DR Congo during the African World Cup play-offs in November 2025 and to Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2025 AFCON.