Nigeria: Eric Chelle extends stay as Super Eagles head coach

The future of Eric Chelle at the helm of the Super Eagles is now settled. The Malian coach has reached an agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Committee (NSC) to continue his journey with the Nigerian national team.

Eric Chelle will remain in charge of the Super Eagles. Having arrived in January 2025 on a two-year deal, he was initially contracted to Nigeria until the end of 2026. After several months of negotiations regarding improved contract terms, all parties have finally reached common ground.

An expanded role

The announcement was made Tuesday in Abuja by Shehu Dikko following a meeting between the NSC and NFF. In addition to retaining his position with the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle has been entrusted with a new responsibility: managing the Olympic Eagles, Nigeria's under-23 national team.

World Cup and Olympic ambitions

This decision reflects the confidence placed in the 47-year-old coach after Nigeria's third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. According to several media outlets, the negotiations centered mainly on improved salaries for Chelle and his coaching staff.

With this extension and his dual role, Eric Chelle will now aim to solidify the Super Eagles' performances while reigniting Nigeria's footballing ambitions on the Olympic stage.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.