Chelle Signs New Super Eagles Deal, Takes Olympic Eagles Role

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has signed a new contract to remain in charge of Nigeria’s senior national team and will also take on responsibility for the U-23 Olympic Eagles, the National Sports Commission confirmed on Tuesday.

Chairman Shehu Dikko announced the agreement following a meeting with Nigeria Football Federation officials in Abuja, where long-term plans for the national teams were discussed.

Chelle’s initial two-year deal was set to expire at the end of 2026, but negotiations over improved terms have now been concluded.

The Franco-Malian coach, who guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, had requested a revised salary package of $130,000 per month to cover his own remuneration and that of his assistants.

Dikko confirmed that the new deal includes enhanced financial provisions and support for Chelle’s backroom staff.

‘We have reached new terms with the coach about his new remuneration. We are also going to take care of his assistants, and there are other benchmarks we have put on the table. I’m sure the coach will be very excited about it,’ Dikko said.

Beyond his Super Eagles duties, Chelle will now oversee Nigeria’s U-23 side as preparations begin for the men’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The move is designed to ensure continuity between the youth and senior teams, with several young players expected to transition into the Super Eagles in the coming years.

‘The objective is not to give the coach more work but to start building for the future,’ Dikko explained.

The expanded role comes with added pressure, as Chelle is tasked with reviving the fortunes of the Olympic Eagles, who failed to qualify for the last two Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Similarly, the Super Eagles missed the last two FIFA World Cups before securing a place at the ongoing 2026 tournament.