NFF confirms Eric Chelle will remain Super Eagles coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will continue in his role, dismissing speculation linking him to other national teams.

Chelle, a Franco-Malian tactician, has been reported to have attracted interest from countries such as Tunisia and Angola following his guidance of the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Speaking in an interview shared by the Super Eagles’ media team, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau stated that Chelle remains under contract and is central to the federation’s 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.

He added that the federation aims to protect Chelle from distractions that could affect the team’s progress. “Basically, we don’t want to bring some distraction on him, because we quite well understand that he enjoys working with Nigeria,” Gusau explained.

Addressing suggestions that Chelle might be swayed by higher financial offers elsewhere, the NFF president noted, “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.”

Gusau emphasised that the key factor for any coach’s success is having the right environment, which Chelle currently enjoys with the Super Eagles.