The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed speculation over the future of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, affirming that the Franco-Malian tactician remains committed to the national team.
Reports had linked Chelle to potential offers from other national teams, including Tunisia and Angola. But NFF President Ibrahim Gusau stressed that Chelle is still under contract and central to Nigeria’s football plans.
“We still have a one-year contract with Eric, and therefore whatever interest anybody will show on him, he has to wait until his contract expires,” Gusau said in an interview shared by the Super Eagles’ media team.
The NFF president added that the federation is keen to avoid distractions that could undermine the progress made under Chelle’s leadership. “Basically, you know, we don’t want to bring some distraction on him, because we quite well understand that he enjoys working with Nigeria,” he said.
Gusau also dismissed suggestions that Chelle’s future could be swayed by financial incentives or short-term success elsewhere. “It’s not about a team being interested in you, and it’s not about because he has gotten the results with the Super Eagles. So if you go to the other team, despite the fact that they are going to give him more money, he’s going to get the results. That’s not the issue,” he explained.
According to the NFF, the key factor for any coach’s success is having the right environment, something Chelle currently enjoys in Nigeria. The tactician led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, cementing his growing reputation.
