Jan 19

Jan 19 Éric Chelle Set for Crucial Talks With NFF Amid Growing Interest After AFCON Success

Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle, is expected to hold decisive talks with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over his future in the coming days, following Nigeria’s impressive outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Chelle, who guided the Super Eagles to a respectable third-place finish at the tournament, has reportedly attracted interest from other African national teams impressed by his tactical discipline and calm leadership on the touchline.

The 48-year-old Malian tactician has already returned to France to reunite with his family and take a short break after the intense AFCON campaign. According to SCORENigeria, discussions with the NFF will take place once he resumes official duties.

Sources revealed that Chelle has received approaches from a couple of African countries, with offers believed to be financially more attractive than his current deal with Nigeria. The coach is presently on a monthly salary of $50,000 and still has one year left on his contract with the NFF.

Opinion: A Test of NFF’s Ambition and Vision

Chelle’s situation once again puts the spotlight on how Nigeria manages coaching continuity. His AFCON performance showed promise—structure, belief, and a team that fought until the end. While bronze may not fully satisfy a football-loving nation like Nigeria, it was a clear step forward after years of instability.

If the NFF truly wants long-term progress, retaining Chelle should be a serious priority. Losing him now could mean starting all over again, a familiar cycle that has often slowed the Super Eagles’ growth. On the other hand, Chelle’s openness to better offers is understandable; football is also about security and recognition.

The upcoming meeting, therefore, is more than contract talks—it is a measure of how committed the NFF is to building on recent progress rather than resetting the project. For Nigerian fans, the hope is simple: stability, vision, and a coach trusted enough to finish what he has started.