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Ibrahim Gusau Insists Eric Chelle Remains Committed to Super Eagles Amid Rival Interest
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has dismissed speculation linking Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle with moves to other African national teams, stressing that Nigeria’s rich pool of talent remains a major reason for the coach’s continued commitment.
Chelle, who guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, has attracted attention despite narrowly missing out on delivering a fourth continental title for the country. His overall performance at the tournament earned widespread support from players and fans alike, reinforcing the NFF’s resolve to retain him.
In the weeks following AFCON, reports connected the Franco-Malian tactician with several national teams, including Tunisia, Guinea, Angola, and his former side Mali. Tunisia is believed to have made preliminary contact and is reportedly willing to offer a salary close to $100,000 per month — significantly higher than his current deal.
However, Gusau made it clear that Chelle remains under contract and fully focused on his job with Nigeria.
“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 emphasized that Chelle values the opportunity to work with Nigeria’s vast array of footballing talent and 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 stated.
Chelle has also publicly reaffirmed his desire to remain in charge, describing the Super Eagles role as pivotal to his career ambitions. During AFCON, he reiterated his commitment to the project.
“I have always been a fan of the team, and this job is very important to me,” Chelle said. “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.”
Appointed in January 2025 on a two-year contract and officially taking charge in March, Chelle inherited the team during the latter stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The campaign ultimately ended in disappointment as Nigeria failed to secure qualification for a second consecutive World Cup.
Since his appointment, the former Mali coach has overseen 18 competitive matches, recording 12 wins and six draws. Two of those draws ended in penalty shoot-out defeats — against DR Congo in the African World Cup play-offs in November 2025 and Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2025 AFCON.
Despite outside interest, the NFF remains confident that Chelle’s future lies with the Super Eagles — at least until the expiration of his current contract.
