Eric Chelle, head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, says he didn’t come for the money. He came for the mission.
“When I came to Nigeria, I didn’t come here because of money. I was earning more in my last job,” Chelle said during an interview with journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.
“I came to Nigeria because this is a very big team and I want to prove something, to achieve something. I came here for the challenge. Nothing has changed about that.”
Chelle’s previous role reportedly paid him more than his current ₦84.9 million monthly salary. Yet, he chose Nigeria, driven by belief in the team’s potential and the hunger to leave a legacy.
Pressure Mounts as World Cup Qualifiers Loom
The Super Eagles are struggling in their fifa-world-cup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. With only one win from six matches, they sit fourth in Group C.
Next month, they host Rwanda in Uyo, then travel to South Africa for a high-stakes clash. Only the group winner qualifies automatically.
Chelle knows the stakes. “I know, quite well, that I can be fired after one match. This is the life in football,” he said.
“But if they decide to do that, they must be prepared to pay up the remainder of my contract.”
His contract reportedly runs till October 2025 and includes provisions for two assistants.
A Coach Under Fire, A Team in Transition
Chelle’s tenure began with the home-based Super Eagles at the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), where Nigeria crashed out early after defeats to Senegal and Sudan.
The 4-0 loss to Sudan left fans angry and players shaken. Chelle called it “the worst game I’ve overseen from the dugout as coach.”
Despite the setbacks, Chelle remains focused. He believes the team can still qualify if they win their remaining matches and get favourable results elsewhere.
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