Chelle Nears New Deal to Coach Eagles Through 2028 Olympics

By Samuel Akpan

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has reached an agreement in principle with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to extend his tenure through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Under the proposed contract—running from June 1, 2026, to August 2028—the French-Malian strategist will oversee both the senior Super Eagles and the U-23 national team.

The new terms feature a significant financial bump: Chelle is set to earn $75,000 per month—a 50% increase from his previous $50,000 salary, though down from his initial $130,000 ask.

Crucially, the NFF will now directly cover the wages of his technical assistants, a cost Chelle previously paid out of pocket.

Negotiations centered around a comprehensive 19-point list of conditions submitted by Chelle, which includes a fully furnished house in Abuja—a demand the federation has already fulfilled.

Final execution of the deal remains on hold, however, following the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and key Executive Committee members in August.

The resulting leadership vacuum has created administrative bottlenecks across the federation, delaying the official contract signing.

Chelle’s first task remains the Super Eagles’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign as Nigeria is also lining up for the Olympic cycle.

PerSecondNews reports that the wider brief could put him at the heart of preparations for Los Angeles 2028 and tighten the link between the youth and senior teams.

The contract still needs formal approval and signatures from the relevant authorities before it takes effect.