National Teams
Eric Chelle warns NFF: ‘Pay me off if you want me out’ amid sacking rumours
By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has sent a strong message to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), insisting that the governing body must honour the financial terms of his contract if they choose to sack him.
Chelle’s position has come under heavy scrutiny following Nigeria’s disastrous outing at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), where the home-based Eagles suffered back-to-back defeats to Senegal and Sudan to exit in the group stage.
The early elimination has fueled calls from fans and pundits for a change in leadership, with doubts growing over Chelle’s ability to guide the three-time African champions into the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which kick off in less than two weeks.
Addressing the speculation surrounding his future, Chelle told veteran journalist Osasu Obayiuwana:
“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 was appointed with a mandate to rebuild the Super Eagles, blending Nigeria’s Europe-based stars with domestic talents. Instead, he now finds himself under immense pressure, caught between fan unrest and NFF’s well-documented impatience with coaches.
The federation has a long track record of abrupt managerial changes, with the likes of Sunday Oliseh, Gernot Rohr, and Jose Peseiro all leaving prematurely amid performance controversies and contractual disputes.
Whether Chelle will be allowed to lead Nigeria into the qualifiers or become the latest casualty of the NFF’s coaching carousel remains to be seen.
