Eric Chelle Sends Message to NFF Amid Sack Rumours After CHAN
- Eric Chelle faces an uncertain future as Super Eagles head coach after the disappointment at CHAN
- Chelle coached the home-based Eagles to a win and two losses resulting in group stage elimination
- The Franco-Malian manager has sent a message to the Nigeria Football Federation amid sack rumours
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Eric Chelle has sent a message to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after rumours emerged that he could be sacked after the African Nations Championship.
Chelle took charge of the Super Eagles in January, succeeding Finidi George, who resigned after just two matches as permanent manager in June 2024.
Source: Twitter
NFF technical director and former Augustine Eguavoen coached the team during the 2005 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which the team qualified for with 11 points in the same group as Rwanda, Libya and Benin Republic.
As noted by the NFF, Chelle's major responsibility was to turn around the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, which Nigeria started poorly.
Chelle won his first game on the qualifying series, beating Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali, but a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in Uyo was a setback to the campaign.
The manager invited pressure after coaching the home-based Eagles to a group stage elimination at CHAN 2024, winning one match and losing two.
Chelle issues warning to NFF
According to The Sun Nigeria, there are reports that the manager could be sacked after the poor campaign during CHAN in East Africa, unless he gets results in the upcoming games.
Chelle, speaking in an interview with Osasu Obayiuwana, the manager, admitted to hearing the rumours but remained unfazed and issued a warning to the NFF.
“I have heard a lot of stories about them wanting to sack me and replace me with someone else. I have heard about that,” he said as quoted by Soccernet.
“I know, quite well, that I can be fired after one match. This is life in football, but if they decide to do that, they must be prepared to pay up the remainder of my contract.”
The manager, despite claiming the NFF will pay the remainder of his contract, admitted that he is not in the job for the money, as he was earning more while coaching clubs.
Source: Getty Images
“When I came to Nigeria, I didn’t come here because of money. I was earning more in my last job. 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,” he added.
Chelle lost his job in charge of Mali after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and took over at Algerian club MC Oran before the Super Eagles came calling.
Nigeria had attempted to hire him in July 2024 after Finidi’s resignation, before going for Bruno Labbadia, who walked out of the job before resuming.
South African star to miss World Cup qualifier
Legit.ng reported that Nigeria received a boost after reports emerged that South African talisman Percy Tau was left out of their World Cup qualifier squad.
The Super Eagles face must-win games against Rwanda and South Africa, particularly Bafana Bafana, which lead Group C with 13 points.
Source: Legit.ng
