THE future of Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is now under serious review as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prepares to decide his fate following the team’s faltering campaign in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, made this known on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, monitored by News Point Nigeria.
Dikko explained that while the NSC had given the national team all necessary support including chartering flights, paying bonuses, and providing logistics, the final decision on Chelle’s job rests squarely with the NFF.
“Eric Chelle is the responsibility of the Nigeria Football Federation to decide,” Dikko said.
“After the analysis of the team’s performance, the NFF will make their recommendations to us, and we will either approve or disapprove based on that assessment.”
Nigeria currently sits third in Group C with 11 points from eight matches, six points behind South Africa who top the group with 17 points, and three points adrift of Benin Republic on 14 points.
The Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw away to South Africa in Bloemfontein on September 9 dealt a significant blow to their qualification hopes. Captain William Troost-Ekong’s own goal and Calvin Bassey’s equaliser were not enough to keep Nigeria’s chances in their own hands.
With just two matches left to play, the Eagles must win both against Lesotho on October 8 and Benin on October 11, while hoping that other results in the group favor them.
“Based on the numbers, it’s out of our hands,” Dikko admitted.
“We just have to win our next two games and see what happens. Football is unpredictable, somebody has to lose for us to qualify.”
The disappointing run has drawn criticism from fans and former players. Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has openly called for the disbandment of the NFF board should Nigeria fail to qualify.
“If Nigeria doesn’t qualify for the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to go. It’s unacceptable,” Mikel declared on the Obi One Podcast, blaming the football body’s lack of structure and planning for the current crisis.
Eric Chelle, a Malian tactician, was appointed as Nigeria’s head coach in January 2025 amid high expectations of rebuilding the team. While results initially improved, Nigeria has picked up eight points in four games under his watch, the slow start to the qualifiers has left qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Dikko stressed that the NSC has fulfilled its obligations to the team and will respect the NFF’s technical evaluation before making any decision.
“As a commission, we did all we had to do to support. For the last game we played, the NSC chartered a flight, paid for hotels, and made the bonuses available. We have done our part; now it’s for the team to deliver.”
