• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

Eric Chelle surely knows what he wants from his subsisting contract with Nigeria, courtesy of his deal as Head Coach of the Super Eagles. He understands the tenets of his contract such that his utterances (positive or negative) don't constitute any breach to coaching agreement with the NFF, the custodians of the game here on FIFA's behalf. Not the string of debts owed the soccer tactician running into millions. After the third place game against Egypt at the 2025/2026 AFCON held in Morocco, Chelle has told the world tacitly how he wants to rebuild the Super Eagles with the choice of genuine young boys with his searchlights targeted at Europe, Americas and the Diaspora. Who would blame the coach for the Diaspora search, knowing the way kids openly tell you which of their ages you prefer, if you dare put them to task on this subject matter. Statements such as "Na my footballer age you want or my real age? Na affidavits I get. Nobi hospital dem born me." Will you blame them for such malpractices? They have been schooled on what to say and are living witnesses to how others before them changed their lives and families' for life. The few soccer academies and quasi nurseries are worse in the bastardisation of their wards' ages. The NFF may be celebrating the seeming new dawn on their part in flushing out such cheats. The NFF has done well in chasing out age cheats but the ripple effect is that our age grade teams have been 'wobbling and fumbling' out of international competitions unlike in the past. But NFF's refusal to standardise the nurseries and academies has created other inglorious platforms whereby youth players now attract transfer fees instead of development fees, which is what the rulebook says. One has waited for Chelle to base his new projections towards ensuring that Nigeria qualifies for the 2026 World Cup through the back door in Mexico. But the coach has chosen not to talk about the poison chalice, preferring to look at the bigger picture. However, Chelle thrilled the world when he informed the international media that he wanted to help Nigeria win the next AFCON and World Cup, when he still had one year left in a subsisting contract. He teased his employers, the NSC, when sent them a 19-point demand, which includes providing for him a Private (SUV) car with a chauffeur and security, House in a well secured environment with 24hrs uninterrupted power supply (electricity), Furnished office with projector for analysis, Internet provision, Flight tickets for wife and two children (Eric and wife Business class), children economy; GPS provision, and Supply of proper equipment in accordance with the coach's demand. Chelle posited further that based on opponents, the coach has the right of choice regarding international friendly matches, camping programmes. The coach will initiate programmes for youth development, Provision for the coach to travel, watch, monitor and engage players of the national teams abroad; Provision for the coach to travel to watch the local league to identify potential players that will be integrated into the senior national team, U-23, U-20 and U-17. Did I hear you ask dear reader what kind of contract he signed in the first instance if these posers weren't addressed and enshrined into the subsisting deal with Nigeria? Again, could it be true that some other people provide names of players for him to invite for Nigeria, if one of his points is insisting that he needs a document signed where he alone invites players to camp not bystanders or federation interlopers? Does Chelle need to remind the NSC and the NFF big men to prioritise his presence at local league venues? A clever board or should I say such boards would cash in on this particular suggestion to visit state governors of teams which they own, to discuss their plans for the game in Nigeria and tacitly get them to watch the domestic games regularly. I can take a bet that one of these governors would donate one of the brand new SUVs parked in Government Houses for Chelle. Some would make pronouncements which would make the task to accommodate the coach and his technical crew at Government Guest Houses anytime they are in town easy, with all expenses paid by such a state government. Chai, one of my naughty friends told me that such suggestions won't fly because there won't be dollars, pounds sterling or euro connotations in such arrangements. Chelle concluded his 19-point demand by stating that there should be "No Interference in team selection and players call up. The NFF has to issue a working contract for my staff; Salary needs to be paid on or before 30th of every month, Bonus and allowance as per federation structure, Request to include my PA in the bonus and allowance structure, Proposed salary of $130,000.00 (One hundred and thirty thousand dollars) monthly. The amount included all my technical staffs and PA." Lastly, monthly meeting with all the national team coaches. What stands clearly is the failure of leadership in the NSC and the NFF in securing a deal with Chelle which would roll over seamlessly beyond the NSC's chest-beating claim of paying the manager's monthly wages. The NSC should allow those who struck the deal pay for the manager's services, even if the payment comes through the NSC - a statutory function. Or is the NFF no longer a parastatal? WHEN WOULD WE LEARN? Very late on Tuesday night I saw the story where FIFA disclosed that the sale of tickets for this month's World Cup Playoff tournament in Mexico had begun at bargain prices compared to the finals, with fans able to secure a seat for as little as 200 Mexican pesos ($11.33). I read the story further, especially the portion where FIFA listed the teams that would participate in the tournament to determine two of the final six nations to qualify for the first 48-team World Cup set to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19. My heart skipped a bit when the FIFA letter revealed that: ''Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bolivia, New Caledonia, Jamaica and Suriname will play at two stadiums that are also venues for the World Cup finals. "Guadalajara and Monterrey will stage the inter-confederation playoff tournament from March 26-31, with FIFA saying ticket prices are in the range of 200 to 300 Mexican pesos.'' Again, my heart froze seeing that Nigeria's name wasn't listed as predicted here severally. I refused to suggest a stop press to the Managing Director (MD). I warned myself not be carried away by what was an interpretation of the ticket sales report and how much it is going for in Mexico. Predictably, the NFF media team denied getting any letter from FIFA throwing out Nigeria's protest. This writer sighed because it raised certain posers on how FIFA could advertise the sale of tickets without Nigeria's name on it? It wasn't in FIFA's place to commit such blunders because of its far-reaching effects which could be monumental. After all, the competition would begin March 26 to March 31. Indeed, March 26 is precisely 19 days from today. So we wait, hoping that the NFF and the man who boasted on Arise Television earlier in the year that he is putting his full chest to say that Nigeria will participate at the 2026 World Cup to be played in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will be proved right. Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/eric-chelle-the-thriller/