Nigeria national football team head coach Eric Chelle has defended his request for a salary increase, saying it is intended to improve his working conditions and denying reports that he threatened to quit.
In a leaked document submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chelle outlined his terms, including a proposed rise in his monthly pay from $50,000 to $130,000 — a figure he said would also cover the salaries of his backroom staff.
The Malian-born coach was reportedly linked with Olympique de Marseille following Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. However, he did not secure the role, and the NFF has since stated that his 19 demands remain subject to board review and approval.
Speaking on the Histoires de Foot, Chelle insisted he remains fully committed to the Super Eagles and rejected claims that he issued an ultimatum.
“I have never gone to Nigeria to say I was going to leave for Marseille or to renegotiate everything. There is no interview or statement where I said I would go to Marseille or that I was threatening anyone,” he said.
“At the moment we’re speaking, I am still the coach of Nigeria. I still have one year left on my contract. In fact, I was in a meeting via video with my technical staff to work on the squad list for the March matches. So yes, I am still the coach of Nigeria.”
Addressing the reported pay demand, Chelle clarified that the $130,000 figure is in dollars, not euros, and stressed that he personally covers the salaries of his technical staff.
“In Africa, with the national teams I’ve worked with, I have to pay my technical staff myself. So all those people have to be paid — and those requests are simply to ensure I have the right conditions to do my job,” he explained.
Among his reported 19 requests are a private SUV with a chauffeur and security detail, accommodation in a secure area with reliable power supply, a furnished office equipped for tactical analysis, flight tickets for his wife and two children, technical equipment meeting his specifications, influence over the selection of friendly matches, and autonomy in team selection. He is also said to be seeking structured access to domestic league games for scouting across the senior side and youth teams, as well as the inclusion of his personal assistant in the team’s bonus and allowance structure.
Chelle confirmed that his agency approached Marseille about the coaching position but maintained he had no direct involvement.
“I signed with an agency to evolve and grow as a coach. My agents decided to approach certain clubs in Europe, particularly in France. At that time, OM was looking for a coach. My agency contacted the club to propose me. We didn’t do anything more than that. Shortlist or not, I had no contact,” he said.
“Since I’m from the region, I chat with friends who ask me if I’d like it. I am a supporter of OM and if someone asks me that, of course I would like it. But in no case did I ask for it to be communicated. With social networks, it just blew up.”
