‘NIGERIA CANNOT AFFORD CHELLE’S $100,000 MONTHLY WAGE’ – SUPER EAGLES DEBATE
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
Former Nigerian international Garba Lawal has expressed concerns over the financial implications of Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle’s new contract, warning that Nigeria may struggle to sustain the coach’s reported $100,000 monthly salary.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) last week extended Chelle’s contract by four years, keeping the Malian tactician in charge until 2030. As part of the new arrangement, he will also oversee Nigeria’s U-23 team with the objective of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Before signing the new deal, Chelle reportedly sought an increase in his monthly earnings from $50,000 to $130,000, a figure that included the salaries of his assistants. Under the revised contract, the coach is expected to earn about $100,000 monthly, while the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will assume responsibility for paying his backroom staff.
Chelle, who took charge of the Super Eagles in January 2025, guided Nigeria to a bronze-medal finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. However, he fell short of securing qualification for the FIFA World Cup after the team lost to DR Congo in the final African playoff.
Reacting to the new contract terms, Lawal, a member of Nigeria’s gold medal-winning football team at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, praised the decision to place Chelle in charge of the U-23 side but questioned the sustainability of the financial commitment.
“This is very good for Nigeria. Eric Chelle can identify and promote players who perform well at the Olympic level. My only concern is whether Nigeria can consistently sustain the $100,000 monthly salary,” Lawal said.
Former Super Eagles coach Finidi George also weighed in on the development, cautioning against overburdening Chelle with responsibilities for both the senior national team and the U-23 squad.
According to Finidi, managing the Super Eagles alone is already a demanding task and the additional role could affect the coach’s effectiveness.
“The Super Eagles job is already stressful enough. The focus should be on setting clear targets for him with the senior team and allowing him to concentrate on achieving them. There are capable Nigerian coaches who can handle the U-23 team, and responsibilities should be shared accordingly,” he said.
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